BYD announced a delivery of two 40-foot K9 electric buses to SolTrans, which serves the cities of Benicia and Vallejo, Calif.

Both buses were manufactured at BYD’s factory in Lancaster, Calif.

“SolTrans is taking an important step today, moving towards sustainability and cleaner air while saving money on fuel, infrastructure, and maintenance,” said Macy Neshati, sr. VP, sales and marketing, at BYD America. “As a California company, we’re thrilled to be working with SolTrans, and looking forward to seeing these buses on the road.”

The new buses are decorated with mural-style art depicting the local community, newly commissioned by Vallejo artist Miro del Salazar.

The BYD K9 40-foot bus has a range of 161 miles on a single charge, the largest for an electric bus of its size available in North America, according to BYD. It is rated for up to an 18% gradient, making it an ideal choice for any route in the hilly San Francisco Bay Area.

The BYD factory in Lancaster currently employs more than 500 people, and with a planned expansion nearly complete, that number is expected to triple over the next three years. Earlier this year, BYD employees in Lancaster completed a “card-check” vote, one major step towards unionization.