BYD's BD11 electric buses could replace London's double-deckers

The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) predicted that the UK's bus market will be the first vehicle sector to decarbonise.

Chinese automaker BYD has introduced its BD11 double-decker electric bus in the UK.

The new double-decker electric bus comes with a massive 532 kWh battery pack - the largest in any commercial vehicle in the UK. With a usable capacity of 457 kWh, BYD claims the bus can travel with 0.9 miles per kWh of efficiency, giving it a range of a little over 400 miles.

The battery system is modular, which means that operators can alter it to fit the usage of the vehicle. BYD uses its trademark Blade battery technology and claims that it can remain in operation for 12-20 years. In addition, the battery is a structural component in the brand's new commercial vehicle platform, called e-Platform 3.0.

While BYD is tight-lipped about the exact objectives of the bus, Frank Thorpe, Commercial Vehicle Managing Director of BYD UK, stated that they "hope" it will replace the current Routemaster to become the default London Bus.

The Routemaster, a 13-year-old hybrid double-decker bus, popularly known as "Boris Bus", went out of production in 2017. It is due to be phased out in the coming years, in line with the city's goal of having an all-electric bus fleet by 2030.

Thorpe, stated, "We genuinely believe it's a game-changing product in terms of its efficiency, safety and commercial appeal. We believe it's going to be significant." He further added, "We've had a fantastic reaction from operators and stakeholders – the Department for Transport, Transport for London – and we're now going to prove what we say. That's the key: we can say all sorts, but we've got to prove that is the best bus for the UK public, taxpayers and stakeholders."

The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) predicted that the UK's bus market will be the first vehicle sector to decarbonise. It stated, "Buses are leading Britain's race to transport decarbonisation as Europe's biggest market for the very greenest road passenger vehicles." It further mentioned, "The benefits, from improved local air quality and reduced noise pollution to a more enjoyable passenger experience, are unevenly distributed."

Source: Autocar UK