Brazil Signs On For BYD SkyRail, Runs Route Over The Ocean

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BYD has landed its first SkyRail contract in South America with a new deal with the Brazilian city of Salvador that will see a stretch of the overhead light rail system running over the water.

The new deal will bring a 20 kilometer stretch of BYD’s SkyRail to Salvador’s beautiful seaside, with one stretch of the run spanning a gap over the sea to connect an offshore island to the mainland. The $689 million project is broken up into two phases, with construction on the first phase set to begin in the last quarter of 2018.

The new system was designed to link together different parts of the city and, more importantly, the existing subway system to give residents options when moving around the city of 3.8 million residents.

“Air pollution and traffic congestion are the twin evils of urban living. The SkyRail will provide the residents of Salvador with a low-carbon and more convenient way of travelling,” said BYD senior vice president Stella Li. “This project is an important milestone in our global revolution. BYD is willing to work together with our partners to electrify transport and make it ‘smarter’.”

Salvador’s unique landscape made BYD’s SkyRail a great option, with its ability to climb hilly terrain without issues. In one stretch of the run, the track will climb 80 meters over a 400 meter span of track.

SkyRail’s autonomous driving system was also selected because of its nearly silent, zero-emission transportation. Its elevated track minimizes the impact of the installation and operation to the city while delivering functional, high-throughput transportation to city residents.

The new installation in Salvador, Brazil, joins a handful of SkyRail installations in China and others in the Philippines, Egypt, Morocco, and Cambodia.

Image Credit: Kyle Field | CleanTechnica