BYD Motors has been awarded a contract from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Heavy Duty Bus RFP that closed in August.
The contract allows for up to 800 heavy duty buses from all different propulsion types that included 12 different categories for all-electric buses. BYD Motors was awarded wins in 10 of the 12 available vehicle categories and has the ability to deliver any of their buses within six months. BYD is also on the contract with wireless on route charging as an option approved by WSDOT.
Vice President of Sales Macy Neshati commented, "It is a tremendous honor to be have received such a vote of confidence from the Washington State DOT. WSDOT continues to show leadership in the transportation electrification movement and they stand out nationally for taking such a firm stance on air quality improvement. As a Nation, we are on the eve of greatness as we prepare to show the world the path to energy independence and this procurement will be seen as a key moment in the electrification of the U.S. transit industry; electric buses are no longer a science-fair project, with BYD now producing a long-range bus in nearly every category we have proven the technology is here to stay."
"Any of Washington State or Oregon's transit authorities, agencies, universities, or institutions are now able to procure electric buses from the approved list of makes and models without going through the cumbersome and time consuming RFP process. All that work has been done by WSDOT," stated WSDOT David Chenaur, capital programs manager.
"Washington State has long been a leader in the clean-energy movement, and WSDOT is proud to be doing our part in furthering this mission on the transportation side of the equation. Our staff has spent the past few years researching every electric bus on the market, and after rigorous evaluations of each manufacturer and their products we believe we have given our transit authorities the very best electric buses in each vehicle category to build their fleet with."
