BYD and Long Beach Transit (LBT) received the Long Beach – Qingdao Sister City Association’s (LBQA) inaugural Green Partners Clean Tech Award for the their contribution to improving the environment in Long Beach through LBT’s zero-emission, battery-electric bus program.

“BYD is very proud to accept this award – but we’re even more proud to have our buses on the streets of Long Beach,” said BYD President Stella Li. “Bringing jobs to Southern California while making the air cleaner is one of the ultimate win-win situations, and I thank LBQA for this new tradition of honoring partnerships that protect the environment and grow the economy.”

In April 2015, LBT’s board selected BYD as its vendor to bring electric buses to Long Beach, as well as the 12 other cities the transit agency serves. The program includes 10 battery-electric buses and the option to buy 14 more, as well as a wireless charging system for en route charging.

Agency officials expect to have their battery-electric buses in service by the end of next month and intend to have the Passport route — a loop running from downtown Long Beach to waterfront attractions including the Aquarium of the Pacific and The Queen Mary — 100% battery operated.

LBQA’s Clean Tech Award was established this year to recognize the growing number of partnerships between U.S. and Chinese companies that are developing new environmental solutions to benefit the citizens of both countries, with a focus on LBQA’s sister cities, Long Beach and Qingdao.