Fresno County Rural Transit Agency Orders Two BYD Electric Buses

BYD (Build Your Dreams), the largest electric bus manufacturer in North America and the largest electric vehicle company in the world, announced a new order that will see two American-made BYD K9S electric buses delivered to the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA).

The purchase was made possible through funding from the Fresno County Transportation Authority Measure C New Technology funds.

According to Moses Stites, General Manager of FCRTA, “We are one step closer to reaching our goals of providing Fresno County residents with reliable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly transportation. The primary reason we selected the BYD K9S electric bus is its expanded range to serve our rural communities.”

FCRTA will unveil a new Express Route that will provide transportation services for individuals that live in Fresno’s surrounding rural communities. The K9S electric buses will be exclusive to the new route due to its range of approximately 150 miles on a single charge.

The K9S features a capacity of up to 32 passengers, depending on the precise configuration. The buses are projected to cost roughly $1.00 less per mile to operate than typical diesel-powered buses. The new buses also will produce no emissions, make oil changes a thing of the past and offer dramatically lower maintenance costs.

The proprietary BYD Iron-Phosphate battery that powers the K9S is manufactured in Lancaster, California. This battery is nontoxic, 100% recyclable, fire-safe and incredibly long-cycled. BYD is the first and only electric bus manufacturer to offer a 12-year warranty on its batteries.

FCRTA’s present fleet includes 4 electric vans (12 passenger) and 44 clean-burning vehicles, alternatively fueled by compressed natural gas in accordance with the Clean Air Act. The K9S buses from BYD will be the first full-sized electric transit buses in the fleet.

FCRTA currently operates 25 transit subsystems with over 90 vehicles. The system serves 13 rural incorporated and 29 unincorporated communities throughout Fresno County. The transit agency provides scheduled, fixed-route services with designated bus stops along specific routes, as well as reservation-based, demand responsive service that offers curb-to-curb transportation for transit-dependent and rural, disadvantaged communities.

 

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