70,000 e-buses delivered by BYD worldwide (2.5% of them in Europe). 5.5 billion km covered

70,000 electric buses delivered by BYD worldwide (only 2.5% in Europe). The Chinese giant has just announced the milestone, achieved after a decede from the launch of its first pure electric bus fleet in commercial operations.

In Europe, BYD makes public it has delivered over 1,800 electric buses, operating in over 100 major European cities across 20 countries. These 1,800 corresponds to a 2.5% of the 70,000 vehicles handed over worldwide. Collectively, the European BYD e-buses have driven over 140 million kilometres, the equivalent to a reduction of 150,000 tonnes CO2 emissions. Globally, BYD’s eBuses have covered 5.5 billion electric kilometres.

The largest of the European BYD e-bus fleets is operating in the Netherlands, with a few issues rising.

BYD, 70,000 e-buses delivered worldwide

BYD states in a press release «it is firmly committed to its European and International ‘bus electrification’ strategies and localised operations, prioritising the value of collaborations with partners and suppliers around the world».

BYD has experienced a presence in Europe for over a decade, initially making an impression as the first and only company to exhibit an electric bus at Busworld in 2011.

BYD in Europe, Hungarian factory is being expanded

Ongoing investment and expansion continue at BYD’s eBus factory in Hungary supporting its principle of ‘Made in Europe for Europe’, adds BYD. This expansion increases production capacity, with the annual output of a single shift rising to 400 electric buses to meet the growing demand for BYD eBuses in Europe. The factory in Hungary facilitates the production of BYD’s complete eBus range, from the 8.7m midi bus to the 18m articulated model. It is from this facility where BYD also manufactures the chassis for single and double-decker eBuses destined for the UK market, with the capability of producing 300 units in a single shift.

The electric journey continues to evolve for BYD and extends beyond its eBus operations. BYD is the world’s leading new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, with electric trucks, vans and cars also forming part of its product portfolio, deploying over 600,000 NEVs in 2021 alone.

Isbrand Ho, General Manager, Commercial Vehicle Business Centre of BYD Europe, said: “BYD launched its strategy for Public Transport Electrification back in 2010, realising the need for change in the way the world relied so heavily on fossil fuels for all modes of transport. Within 12 months, BYD witnessed its first fleet of pure-electric buses deployed in commercial service, and we are proud of the progress BYD has made over the last decade. At the heart of this, has been our ongoing research and development in cutting edge battery and electronic technologies which has been pivotal to us sharing our knowledge and engaging in many successful partnerships around the world. BYD is committed to providing clean, safe solutions that are efficient for operators and kind to the environment while supporting our customers during their transition to electrification as they pursue their zero-emission strategies.”