Nobina, one of Finland’s and the Nordic region’s principal public transport operators, has taken delivery of 43 latest-model 15-metre electric buses from BYD – Europe’s and the world’s leading electric bus manufacturer. The hand-over also marks BYD’s presence for the first time in the Finnish bus market.
The initial deliveries form part of a total order from Nobina for 119 BYD electric buses – the largest ever in Finland – and the first time BYD’s latest 15-metre model will enter commercial operations. The new fleet is being deployed on Nobina’s services in the city of Turku on Finland’s south-western coast. The remaining 76 BYD electric buses will be delivered to Nobina’s Helsinki region operation in mid-August, with models including the new 15-metre electric bus, BYD’s best-selling 12-metre model, BYD’s latest 13-metre variant and the company’s high-capacity 18-metre articulated model.
Nobina becomes the first public transport operator in Europe to take delivery of BYD’s latest 15-metre, three-axle, low-entry electric bus model. The vehicle offers a 47+3 seating capacity and a total passenger capacity in excess of 90. Latest generation BYD Iron Phosphate batteries deliver a single-charge range of 400km under SORT test conditions. Pre-heating for the entire saloon provides a more comfortable on-board climate for passengers and driver, while a full cabin-surround for the driver offers COVID-19 protection.
119 BYD electric buses for Nobina further underscores BYD’s position as the Nordic region’s preferred supplier of electric buses, with over 500 vehicles either delivered or on order with public transport operators in over 20 towns and cities throughout Scandinavia. Collectively, the BYD vehicle parc in the Nordic region has clocked-up over 25-million electric kilometres, delivering an impressive 25,000-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions.
Beginning their successful commercial relationship in 2015, Nobina has selected BYD for a number of its operations in Scandinavia. Today, Nobina operates over 200 BYD electric buses in towns and cities across Sweden, Norway and Finland. Most recently, BYD has supplied electric buses to Nobina for services in the town of Piteå in the north-east of Sweden where 13 BYD 12-metre models are delivering outstanding performance. Piteå is the most northerly location in Europe in which BYD electric buses have been deployed – close to the arctic circle at latitude 65.31º north – often experiencing sub-zero degree temperatures and freezing conditions.
