Paris Preview for World’s First Pure Electric Coach – From BYD

March 15, 2016
Public transport operators and authorities in Paris became the first people in Europe to see the world’s first pure electric coach. Developed by BYD, the coach could transform another city vehicle market which impacts on air quality.

Public transport operators and authorities in Paris became the first people in Europe to see the world’s first pure electric coach. Developed by BYD, the coach could transform another city vehicle market which impacts on air quality.

The BYD coach, developed using the experience of BYD’s world leading position in the pure electric bus market, is currently under homologation testing prior to its introduction in Europe. Paris was chosen for the preview appearance thanks to a drive by the city’s mayor to reduce pollution from such vehicles.

With a range of 200km under typical operating conditions and a recharge time of only 2.5 hours, the all new BYD coach could complete many coaching applications in and around cities — such as shuttle services, city sightseeing, hotel and airport feeder services.

At the event in Paris, BYD’s founder and chairman Wang Chuanfu said, “Just a few months ago my colleagues and I were here to participate in the COP21 UN climate change negotiations and we were impressed by the determination of the authorities not only in Paris but across France to do more to improve the quality of the air their citizens breathe. We heard an impassioned plea by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to assist in greening one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Not only does she, as representative of the municipality, together with STIF, plan to ensure that all of the 4,500 city buses are zero or low emission by 2025 but they specifically referred to diesel-engine coaches as being a major source of pollution. This was a prophetic pronouncement — other cities have yet to target this particular class of vehicle, but of course they will in the future”.

Isbrand Ho, managing director of BYD Europe, added, “We’ll shortly be announcing our introduction plans for our coach in Europe, with France as our first market. Many of the technologies we have developed about our city bus range — also with experience of millions of kilometers of in service running — are applicable to this new model: the BYD pure electric coach. We are confident we have a vehicle which exactly suits the city’s needs.” 

Mr. Ho revealed details of a new BYD sales team in France joined by Bertrand Berger, who has extensive experience in the French bus and coach world.

Amongst standard features of the BYD electric coach are:

  • 180kw (241bhp) motor
  • Braking system incorporating electronic stability control (ESC) + Advanced emergency braking system (AEBS) + Adaptive cruise control (ACC) + Regenerative braking energy recovery system
  • Lane departure warning system
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system for all wheels
  • Keyless start
  • Automatic fire extinguishers in the front and rear cabins
  • AC quick charge facility
  • Stainless steel body with good corrosion resistance
  • Wheelchair area and wheelchair lifting device.