BYD gets big Finnish order for EBs

BYD, the world’s leading electric bus manufacturer, has entered the Finnish bus and coach market for the first time after securing major orders with Nobina, one of Finland’s and Scandinavia’s largest Public Transport Operators (PTOs).

A total of 106 various BYD models will comprise 64 units for Nobina services in Helsinki and 42 units for Nobina’s operation in Turku, together representing the largest ever order for eBuses in Finland.

The announcement also signals a ‘triple landmark’, with Nobina becoming the first PTO in Europe to order BYD’s latest 15-metre three-axle low-floor eBus model. A total of 42 of the new vehicles will go into service on Nobina’s operation in Turku, on Finland’s south-west coast, in the summer time 2021.

The new 15-metre model from BYD offers a 47+3 seating capacity and delivers a single-charge range of 400km under SORT 2 test conditions.

After five years operating the pure-electric BYD brand, Nobina has racked-up over seven million ‘electric kilometres’, equal to reducing its CO2 emissions by approximately 7,500-tonnes. The figures make a significant contribution to helping reverse climate change, and highlight BYD’s and Nobina’s commitment to delivering a sustainable transport solution.

Nobina’s fleet order for its Helsinki operation – with deliveries to begin in 2021 – includes 20 BYD 12-metre low-floor models and 44 BYD 18-metre articulated models.