HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA
BYD is helping to unite the people of Slovakia and Hungary with the delivery of 12-metre eBuses to Volánbusz, one of Hungary’s largest public transport operators. The buses will operate fully electric bus services across the Danube in the city of Komárom/Komárno for the first time.
The historic ‘twin’ city on the Danube comprises Komárom in Hungary on the south bank of the river, with Komárno in Slovakia to the north. Although the city resides across two countries, no border control exists as both Slovakia and Hungary are part of the Shengen Area.
The occasion was marked with a special hand-over ceremony at the BYD Hungary manufacturing facility in Komárom including guest of honour Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade, who was joined by other dignitaries for the occasion. Volánbusz’s latest low-floor BYD vehicles have a claimed range of 300km on a single-charge, from its 348kWh battery capacity. Acquisition of the new eBuses was made possible through funding from the EU’s European Regional Development Fund.
Volánbusz launched its vehicle rejuvenation program in 2018, and has already replaced over 860 buses with new vehicles. The company plans to replace 40% of its total bus fleet by the end of 2022, including further plans to purchase electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
Attila Molnár, Mayor of the City of Komárom, said: “My colleagues and I have been working with conviction for years to introduce the importance of environmental protection. The fact that an electric bus manufactured locally will run between the two banks of the Danube is not only an environmentally friendly development, but together with the new Monostor Bridge, we see a fantastic symbol of 21st Century development.”
Keszegh Béla, Mayor of the City of Komárno added: “It is extremely important for Komárom residents that the Danube does not separate, but connects the northern and southern parts of the city. Thanks to the close cooperation, a number of developments are taking place that connect this region. This electric bus shows our main directions for our city. We are building a modern, environmentally- and family-friendly Komárom, which is the defining center of the region. This is an historic day for the people of Komárom and Komárno,” said Yongping Chen, Managing Director, BYD Electric Bus & Truck Hungary, “and we are delighted to be joined by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to mark the occasion. From today,” he said, “passengers can travel across the Danube on board a pure-electric BYD eBus – in safety, comfort and, above all, helping to promote a cleaner, more sustainable future for the two cities. It’s a great pleasure for the whole BYD group that Volánbusz’s new eBus was assembled at our modern BYD Hungary production plant right here in Komárom. I’d like to mention that it has been a fantastic example of cooperation between nations and one that has contributed significantly to the success of BYD throughout Europe.”
