Chinese automaker BYD Motors has secured a $30m bus supply contract from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) in the US.
Under the deal, the automaker will be responsible for production and delivery of about 25 units of new all-electric buses to the Metro.
The firm order includes initial purchase of five low-floor 40ft buses by Metro's Advanced Transit Vehicle Consortium (ATVC) and South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Metro Board Chair-person Michael Antonovich said, "Metro already operates the nation's largest compressed natural gas bus fleet, but this initiative sets Metro on a new course for transitioning to even cleaner electric buses that will be assembled right here in Los Angeles County at the BYD manufacturing plant in Lancaster.
Following the period of testing and evaluation of the five buses on the basis of operating and maintenance costs, lower life cycle costs compared with its current fleet, Metro is expected to buy the remaining 20 buses.
The contract is part of a Metro's plan to test clean air prototype buses prior to the next replacement bus procurement in 2016.
BYD electric buses are claimed to use iron phosphate rechargeable batteries, which can offer travel range of 155miles between charges with a full passenger load.
