City of Windsor, Ontario first in North America to deploy BYD electric buses

The City of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, has signed a letter of intent to purchase up to 10 BYD 40-foot electric buses for City transit services in 2012. The agreement also opens talks to bring manufacturing of BYD buses to the Ontario region in the near future. Transit Windsor has the unique distinction of running in Canada as well as in Detroit, making this launch one that serves on both Canadian and United States’ roads.

Bus design for Windsor. Click to enlarge.

Additionally, BYD and Enwin Utilities are working towards having a master plan to repurpose the Windsor bus batteries into fixed Energy Storage Stations when the buses retire (in 12 to 15 years).

One of our primary goals was to position Windsor among the first cities in North America to pioneer the efficient use of electric buses within its public transit authority and to establish Windsor as a hub for the development, manufacture and commercialization of energy products including electric buses.

—Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis

BYD is in the process of completing FMVSS, CMVSS, and other certification testing in North America this year with further plans for fleet sales and deliveries after the first Windsor bus deliveries. BYD’s all-electric vehicles in commercial fleets have traveled over 10 million miles over the last two years. BYD has delivered more than 300 all-electric buses worldwide and has orders for more than 1300 more in 2012, making it the largest electric bus manufacturer in the world, according to the company.



Source: Green Car Congress