SunLine Transit Puts Toe in Water with First All-Electric Buses

SunLine Transit Agency, which serves more than 3.5 million passengers annually in the Coachella Valley, is expanding alternative fuel vehicles fleet with the addition of its first emissions-free, all-electric buses.

BYD, the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, has provided the 40 ft. low floor transit buses with seats for 35 and room for more than 60 standing passengers to SunLine. The transit agency began testing the vehicle on service routes in January.

The buses are equipped with BYD-designed and built iron phosphate batteries, delivering 324 kWh of power that come with a 12 year warranty —  what the company notes is the industry’s longest electric battery warranty available.

The batteries can run for up to 155 miles of typical urban driving on the service routes with recharging requiring only four hours.

Category: General Update, Green