BYD has completed manufacturing the first 100% electric articulated bus from Brazil with a high floor, which adapts to demand and BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) projects. The manufacturer had already completed, in June, the same equipment but with a low floor. The vehicles will be produced in scale at the company's factory, in Campinas (SP).
The D11A chassis model, 22 meters long, will be powered by lithium iron phosphate (LifePO4) batteries and have a range of up to 250 km on a full charge. The chassis is sent to the body for implementation and subsequent approval process.
“The bus was completely adapted to meet the needs of express lanes that have a boarding platform. In this way, BYD is able to serve both new express corridor projects and existing BRTs”, said Marcello Von Schneider, director of the Bus Division at BYD Brasil.
Urban mobility and sustainability
According to BYD, electric buses represent a great instrument for reducing local pollutants and greenhouse gases. On average, each common combustion bus consumes 90 liters of diesel in one day of operation. Those powered by electricity prevent the emission of 110 tons/year of CO2 into the atmosphere.
To supply the fleet of electric buses, the company began operating its third factory in Brazil, at PIM (Manaus Industrial Hub). The manufacturing plant is dedicated to the production of lithium iron phosphate batteries, initially aimed at the entire line of 100% electric bus chassis. With an investment of R$ 15 million, the factory, installed in an area of 5 thousand meters², allows the expansion of new production lines in the future.
Currently, the Campinas factory has a production capacity of 720 chassis per year, with an expected increase of up to 1.440 per year. The structure produces chassis for electric buses of the models D9W (urban 13 meters low floor), D9A (urban 13 meters high floor), D9F (charter), articulated D11 B (low floor) and articulated D11A (high floor).
