Massachusetts Agency Selects BYD for First Electric Bus Order

BYD announced that three battery-electric K9M buses will be put into service by the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamship Authority.

With a range of 155 miles, the 40-foot buses will be used to transport riders from the Steamship Authority’s off-site parking lots to its mainland ferry terminals in Hyannis and Woods Hole. The buses will be manufactured at BYD’s U.S. Coach & Bus factory in Lancaster, California.

“The addition of these three electric buses to our fleet furthers the Steamship Authority’s ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility,” said Robert B. Davis, general manager of the Authority. “We are thankful for the support from both the state and federal grant programs that are helping to offset the cost of these vital additions to our shuttle fleet.”

Prior to committing to purchase BYD buses, the Steamship Authority borrowed one electric bus from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority for test runs. Drivers put the bus through paces in both day and night runs, with the agency calling it a successful “proof of concept” trial.