The Los Angeles Department of Transportation ordered 130 BYD battery-electric K7Mbuses — the largest single order of battery-electric buses to date in the U.S.  

The project fits perfectly with the Los Angeles’s “Green New Deal,” a set of sustainability goals that includes converting the entire LADOT fleet to zero-emission buses by 2030. The City of Los Angeles has set a bold goal of converting every city vehicle to zero-emission technology by 2050.

It is estimated the 130 buses will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8,225 metric tons per year and by 98,700 metric tons over the 12-year life of the buses, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 81% compared to LADOT’s CNG buses.

The buses will be built at BYD’s Coach & Bus factory in Lancaster, Calif. BYD’s zero-emission buses not only meet but also exceed Federal Transit Administration “Buy America” requirements, incorporating more than 70% U.S. content.  

The 30-foot K7M has 22 seats, a range of up to 150 miles, and can be charged in 2.5 to three hours. The K7M is one of BYD’s top products. It has no air emissions and runs quietly, improving quality of life wherever it operates. BYD also offers a 12-year warranty on its batteries.

LADOT has been working with BYD since 2014 when it conducted a 90-day trial of a battery-electric bus. In January 2017, city officials introduced the first of four K9S battery-electric buses acquired by the LADOT with a grant from the California Energy Commission.