A BYD electric bus
New energy technology company BYD announced yesterday its agreement to provide 20 electric buses to two Macau-based companies, less than a year after the debut of this type of vehicle in the MSAR.
Under the deal, BYD will service Chong Ou Direct Bus Services Limited and Galaxy Entertainment Group with 10.6 meter C8 electric buses.
Both agreements were signed yesterday during the BYD Electrified Public Transportation Solution Launch Ceremony held in JW Marriott Macau.
BYD also introduced its pure electric vehicles for public, private and industrial use yesterday.
According to the general manager of BYD Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division, Liu Xueliang, the region is in a good position to implement a transportation system that exclusively uses electricity as its power source.
“We are honoured that Macau has chosen to partner with BYD to make this a reality,” said Liu. “We look forward to introducing our entire range of pure electric vehicles to Macau to turn the island city into a model of environmentally friendly tourism,” he added.
Powered by its proprietary iron phosphate battery, BYD noted that its electric coach only requires a charge time of four hours to be able to travel more than 250 kilometers.
Liu Xueliang
The planned roll out of electric buses, coaches and other types of transport in Macau is aimed at reducing noise and vehicle carbon emissions in the region, which reportedly increased as a result of a 73 percent increase in the number of motor vehicles between 1999 and 2010.
Last November BYD were the first company to sign a contract to provide the MSAR with electric vehicles. The contract was finalized at the China (Macau) International Automobile Exposition. The company shared that it has also received numerous requests to trial its 11 tonne electric delivery truck in Macau since launching the vehicle in May.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch ceremony, Liu told the press that they have observed the region’s transportation system over an extended period and from these studies they have concluded that the MSAR maintains a high awareness of environmental protection measures.
“Based on our experience with other countries and regions, Macau is a great place to adapt electric transportation,” he said.
Lui also claimed that the local government and several groups are seriously considering shifting to electric transportation systems.
The general manager of the Shenzhen-based firm admitted that the even distribution of electric charging stations for its electric vehicles is one of the main obstacles to the region’s readiness to adapt to a fully electric system.
He pledged to provide a comprehensive solution and to increase cooperation with local power companies while collaborating on this infrastructure.
“The priority is to promote [electric] public transportation. I don’t think [charging stations] are an issue to the development of electric vehicles,” Lui added.
Last year, the Transport Bureau (DSAT) implemented a new and temporary bus route, E02, which was serviced by electric vehicles. The experimental trial period hosted free rides to the public for a month. The 30-day operation was expected to help evaluate the buses’ functionality and provide a frame of reference for future imports of electric buses. DSAT first expressed its hopes of promoting the use of electric vehicles in the city in 2013.
