Israel orders 100 BYD electric buses

The largest Israeli bus company, Egged, has ordered 100 electric solo buses from the Chinese bus manufacturer BYD. Supported by the Israeli Transport Authority and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Egged aims to massively expand its zero-emission fleet.

For BYD, this is the largest order from Israel so far – the 12-meter-long BYD electric buses are to be deployed in Haifa, the third-largest city in the country, and delivered before the end of 2022.

“This is an important moment for the people of Israel and public transport in our country. It is a clear signal of our commitment to the transition to zero-emission transportation to improve the environment for the Israeli population,” said Nir Landau, Director of the Procurement Department at Egged. 

According to the Chinese bus manufacturer, a total of 37 BYD electric buses are currently in operation across Israel in the cities of Haifa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Modin, and the Sharon region. The electric buses have collectively traveled 5 million electric kilometers, saving over 5,000 tons of CO2 emissions, according to BYD's press release.

The ordered electric buses of the “latest generation” will be equipped with BYD iron-phosphate battery technology with increased energy density for even greater range and longer lifespan. The 422 KWh battery is expected to enable a range of over 400 km on a single charge under SORT conditions, according to BYD.

The ordered electric buses have a modern design and offer, according to the manufacturer, “high comfort for passengers as well as a spacious and comfortable area for the driver.”

What does this mean?

The times when electric buses were ordered individually for "pilot runs" are over – worldwide, the lots are getting bigger – and BYD has firmly established its place in this market.