BYD Becomes First Chinese Auto Company to Penetrate Japanese Market

Kyotokyukou Bus Incorporated has taken delivery of 5 Long Range Battery Electric Buses from industry pioneer BYD Company Ltd. The delivery ceremony held was widely covered as it not only represented electrified public transportation, but also Japan, a nation built on engineering excellence, for the first time acquiring high tech vehicles from their neighbor, China.  

The BYD  electric  buses will be operated in  the  former  Japanese  capital  of  Kyoto,  a well  known battleground for carbon emissions reduction thanks to the globally renowned Kyoto Protocol. One of Japan’s largest transit operations, Kyotokyukou Bus Inc. will take possession of the first 5 BYD Electric Buses. During the ceremony, Sakabe Mitsuo, Director of Kyoto’s Ministry of Transportation said, “it’s a milestone for Kyoto’s public transportation to operate the pure electric buses. The BYD pure  electric  buses  will  demonstrate entirely environmentally  friendly. We  will  do  more  to  improve
environment quality.”

 
Liu  Xueliang,  general  manager  of BYD’s Asia pacific  auto  group  also  spoke  at  the  event, “The Japanese market  has stringent requirements for  technology and quality, the  delivery  of  the  BYD buses means a great recognition for BYD as well as for China’s technology and quality. We believe that BYD electric bus could provide more comfortable and greener transportation experiences to the citizens in Kyoto.” 
 

BYD’s pure-electric  bus  employs  many  advanced  technologies  developed  in-house by BYD’s expansive  staff  of  more  than  15,000  engineers,  such  as  the  advanced  environmentally-friendly, Iron-Phosphate (or “Fe”) batteries,  in-wheel  hub  motors  and  regenerative  braking  system.  The break-through  Iron-Phosphate  battery is  fire-safe  and  non-toxic:  there  are  no  caustic  materials contained in the battery, no toxic electrolytes or heavy metals and can be completely recycled. The BYD electric bus delivers a host of operational and environmental benefits for public transport riders,
operators  and  people  in  the  community – it  is  very  quiet  and  ensures  a  comfortable  ride  without vibrations, jerks or noise associated with the conventional buses and combustion engines. The bus can also drive for more than 250 km (155 miles) even in heavy city traffic on a single charge. The bus has completed more than 40 million kilometers of “in revenue service” and has been evaluated in many major cities all over the world.