Altoona Completes Test of First 40-foot, Zero-Emissions Electric Rapid Transit Bus

The Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center under the Larson Institute and sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), last week completed the FTA’s “new model bus testing program” of the first 40-foot, all-electric bus.

The BYD Electric Bus has successfully completed the Altoona structural integrity testing program in a fast 116 track days *with full reports published soon.

It is the world’s first and only long-range battery electric transit bus in mass production and the only bus capable of driving continuously for up to 24 hours on-a-single-charge that has also received TVM approvals and qualified for FTA funded projects.

BYD will commence shortly with the testing of the BYD 60-foot Bus-Rapid-Transit (BRT) style all-electric bus at Altoona, another first for the Transit Industry,” said BYD Motors President Stella Li.

Noted  BYD Motors President Stella Li,“We believe that our 40-foot bus is one of the most structurally sound transit buses on roads today. Yet like all manufacturers, our engineers found ways, through this testing, to make improvements to ensure the sort of long-lasting quality BYD has become known for.”

BYD’s electric bus has no transmission, clutches or drive train but has instead has two robust in-wheel-drive motors powered by batteries on board the bus.

Category: General Update, Green, Vehicles