BYD delivers the first zero-emission double-deckers to Chile
BYD is adding weight to its foothold in Chile as it delivers the first electric double-decker buses to the country, claiming these were the only ones on the continent. The new EVs are, however, joining a considerable fleet of electric buses already in service.
“In Chile, we have been pioneers in the implementation of electric buses for public transportation,” says Tamara Berríos, Country Manager of BYD Chile. She refers to BYD as delivering no less than 455 electric buses to the country by 2020. Back then, the company set up an electric bus corridor in Santiago de Chile and, at the time, held 65 per cent of Chile’s e-bus market. Its strongest contender is Yutong.
As for the new order at hand, Berríos said, “bringing the first double-decker electric buses to the country positions us once again at the forefront of electromobility throughout the region and the continent”.
The ten double-deckers are of type BYD B12C01 and were apparently custom-built for Chile. Each bus has 69 seats distributed on both floors, in addition to six priority seats and a preferential area for wheelchairs. The total capacity is 97 passengers since the buses are just over twelve metres long and about four meters high. BYD claims a range of 280 kilometres on a single charge but has not released the full technical specs.
“The success of what we see today is also due to the fact that we have generated alliances to create an ecosystem around electromobility, with a charging system, with infrastructure from the hand of an energy supplier and, of course, thanks to an innovative and reliable operator that takes the risk of testing,” added country manager Berríos.
While not specified in today’s communication, BYD has reportedly been working with Enel and Metbus BYD in Chile.
This year, the company expects the fleet to reach 800 electric buses.
Meanwhile, Chile is part of the ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Rapid-deployment Accelerator) project dedicated to accelerating the rollout of electric buses in Latin America.
In March 2022, the government of Chile adopted the national strategy for electromobility. One of the main goals is for all light and medium vehicles, all public transport (buses, taxis and shared taxis) and heavy machinery sales to be emission-free by 2035.
BYD is also active in Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Uruguay. Globally, BYD’s electric vehicles have been extended to more than 400 cities in more than 70 countries.
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