AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (12/16/2021) – BYD and Alexander Dennis Limited jointly announced that they have completed the first two extra-large electric buses BYD ADL Enviro200EV XLB for Howick & Eastern by Transdev in New Zealand, part of Transdev Australasia. These buses were assembled locally in New Zealand by ADL’s partner Kiwi Bus Builders on BYD chassis.
The BYD ADL Enviro200EV XLB is another great example of the successful collaboration between BYD’s advanced Iron-Phosphate battery and chassis technology, as well as ADL’s and Kiwi Bus Builders’ expertise in customizing buses. This 35-foot-long bus has three axles, and can be charged using either AC or DC connections to give full flexibility for operators and depot infrastructure requirements. Additionally, the vehicle could carry 75 passengers with up to 185 miles300 of cruising range.
Howick & Eastern by Transdev General Manager, Sheryll Otway, said: “Clean, green, zero emissions transport is vital for keeping communities connected in a sustainable way. As a group, Transdev have set a target to reduce our emissions globally by 30% by 2030, and the new state-of-the-art fleet will help us to do just that.”
ADL’s General Manager for New Zealand, Tony Moore, said: “Having gone through the final compliance inspection of the vehicles with Kiwi Bus Builders, I can confirm they have done a fantastic job, especially against the background of lockdowns, distancing restrictions, supply chain issues, and port congestion.
“Assembling these vehicles is not just about supporting Kiwi Bus Builders, but also about other local suppliers and the wider communities in which they are based. We also continue to enjoy the full and comprehensive support of the BYD Australia team led by Wing You.”
Richard Drummond, Managing Director of Kiwi Bus Builders, said: “It’s been challenging, especially with local and national lockdowns, but it’s great to be assembling ADL vehicles again and to understand how we can build these vehicles at volume to meet the Government’s zero emission targets. Importantly, we have invested in four new apprentices whose skills we have already seen grow massively over the last five months, and we are already looking to increase our apprentice numbers further next year.”
Auckland Transport’s Metro Decarbonisation Manager, Darek Koper, says: “We are delighted that Auckland’s transition to zero emission buses has created an opportunity to contribute to the local economy, as well as providing the opportunity for industry professionals to upskill their bus-building with new, climate-friendly technology.”
Wing You, General Manager of BYD Australia, said: “We are very glad to work with ADL and Kiwi Bus Builders. In New Zealand, we have been promoting our strategy of ‘Made in NZ, Made for NZ’ since the beginning. By assembling electric buses locally, we are able to create more job opportunities as well as attract more people to learn and understand the cutting-edge technologies in new energy vehicles.”
At present, BYD is successfully serving markets in many other countries across the Asia-Pacific, including Japan, Korea, Singapore, Australia, India, etc. Globally, the brand’s pure electric vehicles cover over 300 cities, operating in more than 50 countries and regions.