Brazil-based Secretariat of Traffic and Transport (SEMUTTRAN) in association with the Brazilian Transit Operator Via Agile has started the pilot testing of the BYD's pure-electric transit bus.
With the trials, SEMUTTRAN aims to evaluate ways to reduce transportation costs and unnecessary emissions across the city of Piracicaba.
The move is in response to the rising cost of diesel fuels in Brazil that is having an adverse impact on SEMUTTRAN diesel fueled transit fleet, which travels 93,500km per year.
SEMUTTRAN secretary Jorge Akira said, "Pilot tests have been very positive - if technical and commercial performance fulfills requirements for the system in Piracicaba, the City will foster the use of electrical buses."
Deployment of the BYD Pure Electric bus is expected to save the transport authority $26,423 per year in fuel that is considered to be necessary for operators in Brazil as they attempt to expand their transportation footprint to meet growing demand.
BYD's pure-electric bus comes with technologies such as the environmentally friendly Iron-Phosphate batteries, in-wheel hub motors and regenerative braking systems.
