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    Brazil: First Zero-Emissions All-Electric Bus Launches in Rio de Janeiro

    April 1, 2014
    Fetranspor and Rio Bus, the public transportation companies for the state and city of Rio, and BYD, joined together at the opening ceremonies for the launch of the BYD 100 percent electric bus this week.
    Related To: RIDE Mobility
    BYD
    The first long-range, zero-emissions bus in Rio -- the BYD 12 meter all-Electric bus
    The first long-range, zero-emissions bus in Rio -- the BYD 12 meter all-Electric bus

    Fetranspor and Rio Bus, the public transportation companies for the state and city of Rio, and BYD, joined together at the opening ceremonies for the launch of the BYD 100 percent electric bus this week.

    This is the first pure-electric bus to launch in Rio and is running now on line 249 operated by Matias, the leader of the Consortium Internorte.

    The partnership, which aims to test the bus on a regular line for one month, has the support from the city government through the city department of transportation, and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and is currently chaired by mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes.

    Participants attending the launch ceremony included Lelis Marcos Teixeira, president of Fetranspor; Joao Augusto Monteiro, chairman of Rio Bus, Roberto Carlos Ozorio, municipal secretary of transportation, Julio Lopes, secretary of state for Transport of Rio De Janeiro, Stella Li, BYD Motors president, Cristina Mendonca, city director for C40 in Rio de Janeiro, Vagner Rigon, sales vice president of BYD Brasil. Authorities and journalists were able to ride on the electrical bus during its first drive.

    Rio de Janeiro at the forefront of reducing emissions

    Rio is one of the three cities in Brazil to test the 100 percent electric buses from BYD (São Paulo and Salvador have done successful tests already). The Operation Manager for Mobility at Fetranspor, Guilherme Wilson said that, “the electric buses are no longer just a promise; the electrical technology is a major innovation in the urban mobility sector. In addition, this vehicle has zero emissions, superior durability and lower operating costs, all considerable advantages towards sustainability.”

    Companies in Rio have tested some types of buses before, like hybrids, diesel from sugar cane, biodiesel, also CNG buses. The pioneering favored this new partnership.

    "Fetranspor is a great reference for testing new energy buses in public transportation and the segment in Rio de Janeiro is a model for many cities in the country,” said Vagner Rigon, sales vice president of BYD do Brasil. “The partnership with Fetranspor will be important to showcase its economical and environmental benefits and help to develop the market for low carbon buses.”