Kansas City International Airport and BYD announced delivery of the airport’s four battery-electric 30-foot coach buses – the first electric buses for airport passenger service in the U.S. The buses will serve as parking lot shuttles, bringing passengers to the airport terminals.

BYD customized the buses for Kansas City Airport to include luggage racks for passenger use. BYD built the four zero-emission, battery-electric buses at its Coach and Bus manufacturing facility in Lancaster, Calif. Kansas City Council approved the order of four battery-electric transit coaches for use at Kansas City Airport in November 2016.

“The Kansas City Aviation Department has long been at the forefront in implementing the latest in environmentally friendly programs and vehicles,” said Kansas City Director of Aviation Pat Klein. “In 1997, we deployed a fleet of the first compressed natural gas mass transit vehicles in regular use in Kansas City. We are one-upping that milestone by purchasing these electric buses to further lessen fleet emissions.”

“BYD is proud to work with Kansas City International Airport to provide these four buses with zero tailpipe emissions, giving airport passengers a cleaner and healthier ride,” said BYD Heavy Industries sr. VP Macy Neshati. “Kansas City International Airport will enjoy cost savings by operating the BYD battery-electric buses because they reduce fuel and maintenance costs by tens of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the bus.”

BYD offers seven battery-electric coach and bus models and has deployed more than 140 battery-electric buses to customers across North America. In response to high demand for its advanced technology buses, BYD recently completed an expansion of its Coach and Bus manufacturing facility in the City of Lancaster, Calif. This expansion will allow the company to build up to 1,500 battery-electric buses annually once operating at full capacity.