BYD Lands Deal For 15 Electric Buses In Madrid
BYD has taken another step forward in electrifying mass transit in Spain, as the company has landed a deal with EMT Madrid for 15 BYD 12-meter buses. The new order marks the first order of fully electric buses from BYD for EMT Madrid, which is the primary operator of public surface transit operations in the Spanish capital.
“I am delighted that Madrid and EMT have chosen emissions-free electric buses from BYD,” Isbrand Ho, Managing Director at BYD Europe, said. “The benefits of clean operations will be seen by EMT and, importantly, by the people of Madrid. I am confident that we will continue our growth in the cities of Spain and we will pursue our mission to improve air quality throughout Iberia and beyond.”
The order represents an important foothold with the largest public transport provider in all of Spain for BYD and could open the door for more electrification of EMT Madrid’s 2,100 vehicles. The new 12 meter buses from BYD will arrive in Spain at the start of 2020 and will serve to replace existing combustion-powered vehicles operating in the national capital today.
BYD has made significant headway in Spain in recent months, with Barcelona, Valencia, and Badajoz all having placed orders for BYD electric buses. These orders are a part of the much larger story of the electrification of mass transit routes around the world, and BYD just celebrated the delivery of its 50,000th bus, which went to Badajoz, Spain, just last week.
Neighboring Portugal is also getting in on the action, with the city of Coimbra slated to take delivery of 8 BYD electric buses next week. These deliveries are important, as they are far more than pilots, with the vast majority of the new orders serving as direct replacements of existing combustion vehicles in the fleet. Replacing existing vehicles serves to directly reduce emissions along transit routes, while offering the potential for lower operating costs over the life of the new vehicles. They’re also quieter, they’re more comfortable/smooth, and they contribute to greater energy independence. Win-win-win-win-win.
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