Burlington, NC, Becomes Battery-Electric With Delivery Of 2 BYD | RIDE Buses

BYD | RIDE has delivered two of its K7M 30-foot battery-electric buses to Burlington, NC, to serve passengers using the city’s Link Transit fleet. The buses will be used on five routes involving Burlington, Gibsonville, Elon, and Alamance Community College.

“The 30-foot buses fit up to 22 passengers and are equipped with the industry’s safest batteries, providing a smooth, quiet, and sustainable ride,” according to a press release.

The buses and associated chargers were purchased through the State of Georgia’s cooperative procurement, which allowed Burlington the ability to purchase in line with federal rules for the acquisition of transit vehicles under 49 U.S.C. § 5323(u), administered within the guidelines of the Federal Transit Administration.

“BYD | RIDE applauds Burlington for making the transition to clean, zero-emission transportation,” BYD Senior Vice President Patrick Duan said. “We are thrilled they chose our K7M to help redefine the future of transportation by transitioning to green technology.”

Burlington also increased accessibility to clean transportation and mobility by connecting pedestrian walkways, greenways, and bikeways to Link’s bus stops.

“We are excited to give Link Transit passengers the opportunity to ride a zero-emissions transit bus with more capacity,” Link Transit Manager John Andoh said. “As Link Transit replaces its buses in the future, those replacements will also be zero-emissions battery-electric buses. We are doing our part to make the environment better for future generations.”

The buses are purpose-built by members of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers Union, Local 105, at the BYD | RIDE Coach and Bus Facility, in Lancaster, CA. Visit en.byd.com/bus/.