BYD to roll out electric bus K9 this month

Shanghai September 21 (Gasgoo.com) Chinese battery and automaker BYD Co. will roll out its first electric bus, BYD K9, at the end of this month, and display the zero-emission bus at the "China (Changsha) Technology Seminar" during October 11-12, Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.

The ironcell-powered BYD K9 is now is in the final phase of assembly and debugging. With an impressive silver body, fashionable extra big window and vivid BYD logo, the K9 is 12 meters long, weighting 18 tons and a one-step low floor bus.

Similar with ordinary buses in appearance, the K9's running cost is otherwise 15% lower than the existing diesel buses due to the use of new energy.

The BYD K9 can run up to 300 Kilometers on a full charge, while ordinary buses can only run about 200 Kilometers at full capacity. One electric bus can thus save 170,000 yuan ($25,300) on running costs compared to a common bus, said Liu Xiangjun, general manager of Changsha BYD Auto Co., Ltd..

BYD is currently building 20 K9's in the Changsha base, and if the bus passes emissions test, practical driving assessment and other relevant tests, the company will then put the K9 into mass production and launch it to the domestic market immediately, Liu revealed.

The Chinese government has been active in establishing charging stations for electric buses and other supporting facilities across the country so as to ensure the smooth operation of electric buses.