BYD joined the City of Albuquerque, N.M. to announce the delivery of its first all-electric 60-foot articulated transit bus to operate along the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) route.

This delivery comes one year after the city announced it had chosen BYD as its manufacturer, and the delivery marks the first of 20 buses to be completed by the end of 2017.

“The selection of electric buses make the ART project an even more sustainable project for Albuquerque’s future,” Mayor Richard Berry said. “Careful deliberation has gone into the selection process, and it was found that these buses are the best fit with the most dynamic benefits for the City of Albuquerque and the ART project. ART will not only have a lasting positive impact on improving transit options in Albuquerque, but with the selection of electric buses, it will also increase environmental efficiency and cost savings.”

The BYD 60-foot articulated battery-electric transit buses provide an eco-friendly, high efficiency, long-lasting bus with increased reliability and simplified maintenance. As a result, ART will now have a 50% monthly savings on fuel and maintenance costs, contributing to greater stability for budget forecasting.

In addition to cost savings, the BYD electric buses will also improve local air quality for Albuquerque residents through the elimination of harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides.

“BYD is very proud to partner with the City of Albuquerque to deliver these zero-emission, advanced technology buses to Albuquerque Rapid Transit,” Macy Neshati, sr. VP of BYD Heavy Industries, said. “ART has taken the lead by making the responsible choice with electric zero-emission buses and has shown other transit agencies can follow suit to meet their most important fiscal and environmental objectives.”

It is estimated the Albuquerque will reduce its carbon footprint by more than 21,780 metric tons while also saving taxpayers $9.8 million in operational savings over the operational lifetime of the BYD electric buses.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this carbon offset is the equivalent to removing 4,601 passenger vehicles off the road for one year, recycling 6,912 tons of waste instead of it being landfilled, or removing 2,300 homes’ energy use for one year.