Recharge Wrap-up: BYD electric buses at Special Olympics, hybrids perform better than rated

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A new study finds that real-world fuel economy of hybrids could be significantly higher than EPA ratings. Researchers at the University of Vermont, with the help of their own “total on-board tailpipe emissions measurement system,” found the fuel savings of Toyota Camry Hybrid over a standard Camry to exceed its sticker values by 18 percent on the highway and 33 percent in the city. The results of this study suggest that the projections of the fuel and emissions benefits of hybrids could be adjusted to reflect more these more positive real world values. The study’s authors, Britt A. Holmén and Karen M. Sentoff, say more research is warranted based on these findings, and that “similar studies can be used to develop robust models of all types of HEV platforms under actual driving conditions and improve quantitative estimates of the future fleet contributions to the US CO2 emissions inventory and petroleum consumption.” Read more at Green Car Congress.

The 2016 Chevrolet Volt made an appearance at the 2015 Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chevy displayed the silver Volt alongside a Camaro and Malibu of the same color and model year. The Volt also recently made an appearance at the premier of Tomorrowland with George Clooney behind the wheel. Read more at The News Wheel.

BYD electric buses provided transportation at the Special Olympics 2015 World Games in Long Beach, CA. Shuttling 6,500 athletes required the help of multiple charter companies, including local buses from the Chinese automaker. “BYD stepped up majorly as one of our key supporters and their tremendous efforts made our athletes feel welcomed,” says Long Beach Community Foundation President and CEO, and 2015 Host Town Transportation Coordinator Marcelle Epley. “We depended on them, and they came through 100 percent.” Both Los Angeles and Long Beach have recently decided to purchase electric buses from BYD. Read more in the press release below.

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BYD Zero-Emission Buses Used to Transport Athletes at 2015 World Games

LONG BEACH, Calif., Aug. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — This week the largest Special Olympics ever was hosted in the City of Long Beach – thousands of athletes, coaches, dignitaries and families descended upon Los Angeles for what was a spectacular week of uplifting camaraderie, sportsmanship and competition. Handling the transportation and logistics of more than sixty-five hundred (6500) athletes required importing charter bus operators from across the nation as well as utilizing as many local resources as possible. One significant local resource was California’s Coach & Transit Bus manufacturer BYD Motors. “World Games Host Town and the City of Long Beach is grateful for the buses and drivers that BYD provided to transport our athletes while touring Long Beach,” stated Long Beach Community Foundation President & CEO, and 2015 Host Town Transportation Coordinator Marcelle Epley. “BYD stepped up majorly as one of our key supporters and their tremendous efforts made our athletes feel welcomed. We depended on them, and they came through 100%.”

At the Opening Ceremonies on Saturday evening presided over by First Lady Michelle Obama and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, BYD Motors President and CEO Stella Li commented, “BYD could not be more proud to be a transportation provider for the 2015 World Games. With athletes competing tomorrow we are happy to see our Zero-Emissions electric buses operating both here and now in service at LA Metro hopefully providing a cleaner environment for these magnificent athletes to compete in.” Both the cities of Los Angeles and Long Beach have opted to purchase 100% battery-electric transit buses from BYD Motors in each of their latest procurements. “Los Angeles led the way years ago with the mass adoption of clean-air natural gas transit buses, and we are excited to again be the first large American city taking this final step to Zero-Emissions transportation by electrifying our fleet,” said LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich at a press event in May.

BYD’s Battery Electric bus employs many advanced technologies developed in-house by a staff of more than 15,000 R&D engineers including the advanced, BYD Iron-Phosphate battery which boasts the only 12-year-battery warranty in the industry. Combined with BYD’s proprietary in-wheel hub motors and regenerative braking system, the BYD battery electric bus offers the lowest life cycle cost of ownership. The BYD electric bus delivers a host of operational and environmental benefits for public transit riders, bus operators and residents of the community – it is very quiet and ensures a comfortable ride without vibrations, jerks or the noise associated with the conventional buses and combustion engines. The bus can also drive for more than 155 miles even in heavy city traffic on a single charge. As of April 1st, 2015, BYD bus fleets have completed greater than 38 million miles “in revenue service” and have been evaluated by more than 110 cities in 36 countries around the world. To date, BYD has sold just over 5,000 electric buses globally, making it by far the most popular electric transit vehicle on the planet.

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432 3 minutes read