BYD unveils electric intercity bus with 700 km range

BYD took the wraps off its new electric intercity bus at the UITP Summit in Hamburg – marking the European debut of the large-format zero-emission vehicle. The B13.b follows the all-electric B12, which premiered at the Busworld Europe 2023, and was the company’s second model to feature the Blade Battery Chassis platform. This cell-to-chassis technology integrates the LFP battery directly into the vehicle structure.

Thanks to the new platform, the B13.b can house a battery with a capacity of up to 560 kWh – 54 kWh more than its predecessor. According to BYD, the bus can achieve a range of “up to 700 kilometres” on a single charge, depending on operating conditions. The figure is based on preliminary data under the SORT cycle (Standardised On-Road Test).

The 13.2-metre-long vehicle offers 49 seats and a total passenger capacity of up to 78 – eight more than the currently available B13. It is powered by two 150 kW hub motors. Alongside the 560 kWh battery variant for the 700 km range, BYD also offers a 476 kWh version, which enables a range of up to 620 km. Top speed is capped at 100 kph.

Charging options for the B13.b include standard DC fast charging at 192 kW (single-side) or dual-side charging with two 192 kW connections. The vehicle is also compatible with pantograph charging at up to 500 kW.

BYD first unveiled its Blade Battery Chassis at the IAA Transportation in September 2022. The standout feature of this platform is the battery’s placement in the underfloor area – between the axles and in the rear – which enables the purely electric chassis layout. The two BYD models built on this base also feature a new 6-in-1 controller with silicon carbide semiconductors and two hairpin-wound hub motors.

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