PORTUGAL The first pure electric BYDs have been ordered by a Portuguese operator. The Coimbra Municipal Public Transportation Service, SMTUC, is to buy eight 12m BYD ebuses, the contract having been signed by Manuel Augusto Soares Machado, President of the Coimbra Municipality and Isbrand Ho, Managing Director of BYD Europe. BYD has expanded its European presence to 10 countries and now has orders for over 400 electric buses across the sub-continent.
The Coimbra ebuses are expected to be delivered at the beginning of 2019. Manuel Augusto Soares Machado, President of the Coimbra Municipality, said: “I am honoured to announce that these BYD buses are the first full-size 12m pure electric buses in the 100 year history of SMTUC. I am also happy to announce that new tenders are being prepared to reinforce electric public transportation in Coimbra.”
Isbrand Ho, Managing Director at BYD Europe, added: “We are delighted to be able to add this important market, Portugal, to our client portfolio. From north to south Europe, we have become a competitive player across the continent covering all the climatic conditions from the cold north of Scandinavia to the heat of Italy, Spain and now Portugal, not forgetting the more moderate conditions of Benelux and the UK. The results of the tests with our ebus here were promising and we are confident that our ebuses can deliver reliable and safe services and help to improve air quality – whatever the weather!”
