BYD announced a new order that will see two American-made BYD K9S electric buses delivered to the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA). The purchase was made possible through funding from the Fresno County Transportation Authority Measure C New Technology funds.

“We are excited to expand our transportation services with these two new zero-emission buses,” said Moses Stites, GM of FCRTA. “We are one step closer to reaching our goals of providing Fresno County residents with reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly transportation. The primary reason we selected the BYD K9S electric bus is its expanded range to serve our rural communities.”

FCRTA will unveil a new Express Route that will provide transportation services for individuals that live in Fresno’s surrounding rural communities. The K9S electric buses will be exclusive to the new route due to its range of approximately 150 miles on a single charge.

The K9S features a capacity of up to 32 passengers, depending on the precise configuration. The buses are projected to cost roughly $1 less per mile to operate than typical diesel-powered buses. The new buses also will produce no emissions, make oil changes a thing of the past, and offer dramatically lower maintenance costs.

“We are thrilled to partner with FCRTA to create a more sustainable world,” said Macy Neshati, sr. VP of BYD Heavy Industries. “It’s an exciting time to witness transit agencies, large and small, continue to shift towards electrification — particularly in areas once thought hard to serve.”

The proprietary BYD Iron-Phosphate battery that powers the K9S is manufactured in Lancaster, Calif. The revolutionary battery is non-toxic, 100% recyclable, fire-safe, and incredibly long-cycled. BYD is the first and only electric bus manufacturer to offer a 12-year warranty on its batteries.

FCRTA’s present fleet includes four electric vans (12 passenger) and 44 clean-burning vehicles, alternatively fueled by compressed natural gas in accordance with the Clean Air Act. The K9S buses from BYD will be the first full-sized electric transit buses in the fleet.