BYD electric in Israel

Israeli operator, Dan Bus Company, has started operating the country’s first full size electric bus, a BYD ebus. Dan is using the vehicle on Line 5 in Tel Aviv. The operator expects to fully integrate the ebus into its normal operation since its range on a single charge of 250km in normal urban conditions plus the ability to recharge in four to five hours will match its normal service requirements. The operator plans to invest £15.6m/ILS85m on electric buses over the next five years, meaning that 25% of its fleet will be emissions free. Dan notes that the maintenance costs for electric buses are 25% lower than for diesel buses, with the price of electricity per kilometre being one third of the cost of diesel.