China's BYD tests electric buses in Copenhagen

Associated Press (Copenhagen) - Chinese electric carmaker BYD Co. says it is launching two electric buses that will be on trial in Copenhagen’s transportation system.

Dorthe Noehr Pedersen, CEO of the transit agency, Movia said in a statement Monday that the company "will consider introducing more and more" if the buses "meet our requirements for reliability."

In 2009, Movia introduced small electricity-powered buses on a circular route in downtown Copenhagen.

Movia is owned by cities in eastern Denmark and doesn’t own any of its buses but pays subcontractors to operate them. Movia’s network includes 570 bus lines and it carries some 213 million passengers per year.

BYD business director Yongping Chen says he hopes the two-year project "will benefit the acceptance of our electric buses in other European countries."