BYD Celebrates Milestone eBus Anniversary in the Netherlands

• It is 10 years since the first fleet of BYD eBuses entered service in the city of Schiermonnikoog in the Friesland Province of the Netherlands
• BYD honours the occasion with a special 10-Year Anniversary ceremony in the presence of guests from the Friesland Government, the public transport operator, Arriva, and representatives from other key partners
• The delivery of six BYD 12-metre eBuses in 2013 is an important milestone in BYD’s expansion into the European market
• BYD was awarded the order following the first public electric bus tender in Europe

SCHIERMONNIKOOG, NETHERLAND - BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of New Energy Vehicles and power batteries, celebrates a milestone ‘eBus Anniversary’ in the Netherlands. It is 10 years since the first fleet of BYD electric buses entered service with Arriva in Schiermonnikoog, Friesland Province of the Netherlands.

BYD representatives as well as guests from Friesland Government and other key partners at the ceremony

The delivery of the first eBus fleet was of great significance at that time as it fulfilled the first public electric bus tender in Europe, with the Friesland Province government awarding BYD the momentous order. The order was for six BYD 12-metre electric buses and a 15 year-maintenance contract.

BYD eBuses went into service in 2013 for the public transport operator, Arriva, in the city of Schiermonnikoog, where their arrival 10 years ago marked the launch of Europe’s cleanest city bus fleet. The Friesland Province was an early adopter of electrified public bus transportation with a goal to be fully independent of fossil fuel, realising that over a third of CO₂ emissions in the Province came from traffic pollution.

Over the last ten years, the six zero-emission BYD ebuses have collectively covered 877,549 kilometres, equivalent to reducing CO₂ emissions by 942.13 tonnes.

A ceremony hosted by BYD to commemorate the 10-year anniversary was held at Schiermonnikoog on 16th June in the presence of representatives from the Friesland Government, including Jan Knorren, Policy Officer of Public Transportation Management. Representing BYD Europe at the ceremony were Isbrand Ho, Managing Director, Commercial Vehicle Business, and Javier Contijoch, eBus Sales President.

Isbrand Ho, Managing Director, Commercial Vehicle Business, BYD Europe, said: “This is a very proud moment for BYD, as we celebrate the 10^th anniversary of BYD eBuses operating in Schiermonnikoog. The Friesland Government and Arriva set an impressive precedent, and many other European countries have followed suit. The tender represented an exciting start for clean, zero-emission BYD eBuses entering European markets, which have gone on to flourish in the years that have followed, as more and more cities in Europe electrify their public bus services to reduce pollution from carbon emissions. Through world-leading technologies and pioneering innovation in electric bus transportation, BYD continues to support the transition to eMobility in Europe, and on a global scale.”