The coach can carry up to 51 seated passengers and their luggage (4 cu metres of space). It has a typical range of between 140 and 200km in typical city conditions, based on real-world operating experience in China, and can be full charged in three hours.
Two French operators, BE Green and Nedroma, have already ordered a total of 15 vehicles to serve the Parisian sightseeing market. The coaches will be delivered later this year, says BYD.
Also on show at IAA is BYD’s 12-metre ebus, the company’s standard electric bus model now in service in London and Schipol.
The vehicle on show is designed for the European market and is similar in specification to the 35-strong order delivered to Schipol airport for airside passenger transportation.
Isbrand Ho (pictured), managing director of BYD Europe, says: “We are fully structured to supply European operators with outstanding and proven electric buses and, now, coaches and the aftersales support they require. Our vehicles deliver outstanding reliability, range and of course we are the only company where the battery technology comes first – all of our competitors have to source theirs from third parties.”
Ho also predicts that BYD “will soon be on the radar screens of all those in Europe concerned about improving air quality”, adding: “Not only with our fast developing bus and coach range, but thanks to our taxis (now being trialled by Uber in London as well as in service in Brussels and Barcelona), our plans to enter the light commercial vehicle and then heavier truck markets and, slightly further way, our intention to bring to Europe our well respected and successful range of hybrid and electric cars.”
Ho says: “In fact, two years from now at our second IAA appearance I expect us to be present with buses, coaches and commercial vehicles.”