These 35 BYD buses will enter service in July of 2014 and will replace an aging fleet of conventionally powered buses. The open-public tender was sought by four other established suppliers.

Winning this contract was a vital step in our strategy to deliver emissions-free, public-transport vehicles. We won this contract on the strength of our proven technology and ability to support their 10-year operating contract. We are confident that this high-profile contract will persuade many other bus operators inside and outside the airport business to consider all-electric BYD buses.

—Isbrand Ho, BYD Europe’s Managing Director

The BYD ebus is a proven, full-size 12 meter (40 foot) bus which has completed more than 17 million kilometers (10.6 million miles) in revenue service and has been evaluated in many major cities across Europe.

It features an all-aluminum frame with appropriate weight distribution with an internally developed energy recovery system (during braking). The BYD ebus can drive for 250 km (155 miles) even in heavy city traffic after a full, 5 hour, night-time charge.

In China, there are already more than 1,000 such buses and in the first quarter of 2013 the BYD ebus obtained full European certifications. This allowed the company to start selling buses in the European markets. The Dutch province of Friesland was the first in Europe to place BYD electric buses into service. Orders have been awarded in China, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Uruguay, North and South America.