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BYD has recently celebrated the roll-off of the first 20 units from a 120-bus order destined for South Africa. The milestone event took place at BYD’s factory in Chinese eastern city of Qingdao.
Earlier this year in July, BYD’s South African subsidiary secured a significant order from Golden Arrow, a prominent bus operator in the country. This agreement signified the creation of South Africa’s first-ever electric bus fleet.
The delivery of these initial 20 electric buses is slated to commence in December of this year. The company aims to complete the delivery of the entire 120-bus order by the end of the following year.
It’s worth noting that these buses have been specifically designed and optimized to meet South Africa’s unique climatic conditions and transportation needs. Each electric bus, measuring 12.5 meters in length and accommodating 65 seats, will be integrated into Golden Arrow’s existing fleet.
The real-world performance of BYD’s electric buses has been thoroughly tested in South Africa since as early as 2021. These comprehensive tests, conducted in collaboration with Golden Arrow, covered a range of scenarios from simulating full-load conditions to tackling Cape Town’s steepest roads.
Furthermore, each bus in this custom order comes equipped with a lithium iron phosphate battery and a six-in-one controller. Both these components have been independently developed by BYD, underscoring the company’s commitment to pioneering technology in the electric vehicle industry.
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