COLUMBIA, MO – BYD announced on Tuesday the sale of three more American-made all-electric buses to the City of Columbia, nearly doubling the Central Missouri municipality’s zero-emission fleet as part of its commitment to significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
The smooth-riding K8M 35-foot buses were built by BYD at its Lancaster, CA., Coach & Bus Manufacturing facility. Each vehicle is equipped with a 435kWh LFP battery and can be fully charged within three hours. Members of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers union, Local 105, built the vehicles to “Buy America” specifications.
Columbia, a city of more than 125,000 and home to the University of Missouri, currently uses four 30-foot BYD K7M buses. The new vehicles will have greater seating capacity and 30% more range.
“They’ve done a great job for us,” Mike Sokoff, Transit and Parking Manager for the City, said of the BYD buses currently in use. “The City of Columbia is committed to sustainability as part of a climate action plan designed to significantly reduce pollution. Transitioning our bus fleet from traditional diesel to zero emission is very important.”
The city’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan outlines goals for reducing community GHGs by 35% by 2035 and 100% by 2050.
“We are proud to partner with the City of Columbia in eliminating harmful pollutants and safeguarding air quality for generations to come,” said Patrick Duan, BYD’s Senior Vice President of Operations. “Our zero-emission buses are made in the United States and use technology that is revolutionizing public transit.”
Quality and innovation are trademarks of the global BYD brand, a fact not lost on riders.
“Our riders like them a lot. The buses are quiet, and they ride very well. They’re really smooth,” Sokoff said.
