BYD Secures Largest E-Bus Order In Spain

As part of what is reportedly Spain’s largest-ever electric bus order, BYD, a global electric bus manufacturer, will supply 30 of its 40 ft. K9 pure electric buses for public transportation operations in Madrid, the Municipal Transport Co. of Madrid, (EMT Madrid) announced.

The announcement in the Spanish capital, follows the delivery of an initial fleet of 15 BYD 40 ft. buses earlier in May.

“Our first 15 BYD vehicles are performing well,” said Joaquín Bellido, BYD’s director for Iberia. “We hope to continue to support EMT Madrid as it switches more of its fleet to electric mobility, bringing safe, comfortable, emissions-free transport for the people of Madrid.”

The K9 has a 246.1 in. wheelbase, a gross vehicle weight of 43,431 lb. and is designed to seat 37 passengers. The chassis incorporates a ZF front axle with a BYD in-wheel drive axle in the rear. Iron phosphate batteries with a 324 kWh capacity drive a pair of 150 kW ac synchronous motors that give the vehicle a top speed of 62.5 mph and a range of up to 156 miles. The batteries can be fully charged in 2.5 to 3 hours, BYD said.

A portion of the original fleet of 15 BYD eBuses operate on EMT Madrid’s high frequency ‘Route 52.’ The service connecting Puerta del Sol and Santamarca. Others in the fleet are in circulation on Madrid’s new perimeter service.

Despite lockdown restrictions brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic, the initial 15 BYD eBuses were successfully delivered in May. The subsequent 30 eBuses will be delivered in 2021, company officials said.

The Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid, EMT Madrid, is the public company depending on Madrid City Council which operates the surface public transport in Madrid. EMT is integrated in Madrid´s Regional Transport Consortium and operates a fleet of 2100 buses and a network of 213 bus lines.