the shenzhen-based automaker byd rolled out its first california-made all-electric long-range bus monday from a desert factory in lancaster, the united states, which aims to produce 1,000 of the plug-in vehicles a year.
california governor jerry brown attended the unveiling ceremony for the 12.2-meter-long all-electric bus at the byd motors factory, the company's first electric bus manufacturing plant in the united states. the plant employs about 60 people in the antelope valley northeast of los angeles. it's part of a municipal fleet ordered by the city of long beach.
"this is a small beginning - a few buses - but it holds the promise of something very big and very important," brown said in a statement.
byd, which stands for "build your dreams," is the world's largest manufacturer of rechargeable batteries. it is the largest domestic automaker and electric bus manufacturer in china.
the company has concentrated on california, establishing its north american headquarters in los angeles about three years ago.
the company says its buses can travel 155 miles (248 kilometers) between charges with a full load of passengers and the air conditioning running.
byd hopes to sell them to cities, transit agencies and school districts at a price of us$100,000 to us$200,000 per bus. the company has said it expects to produce 50 buses a year within two years and to reach the plant's capacity of 1,000 buses a year within two decades.(sd-agencies)
(source:shenzhen daily)
