Rotterdam plans to add 22 more BYD pure electric taxis
Rotterdam Taxi Company (RTC), which in 2013 became the first operator in Europe to put into service BYD’s advanced pure electric taxi, the BYD e6, has this week indicated it is planning to add a further 22 taxis to its fleet.
CEO Sjaak de Winter signed a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire the new fleet with BYD’s Chairman Wang Chuanfu at a ceremony at BYD Europe’s HQ, which is located in Rotterdam.
(Image: BYD Chairman Mr. Wang [left] with RTC CEO Sjaak de Winter)
Mr. De Winter said: “The experience with our first three BYD e6 taxis has been very positive – they are liked by our passengers and drivers and they have proved very economical to operate. We look forward to expanding our fleet of these environmentally friendly and cost effective vehicles”.
Mr Wang Chuanfu said: “We are delighted that major European cities such as Rotterdam are recognising the role that BYD’s battery technology can play in improving air quality in urban environments. Our e6 taxis – and our ebus range of pure electric city buses – rely on a proven and reliable battery technology, which delivers excellent range and real operating cost advantages to the operators. It’s great to be able to co-operate further with our friends at RTC”.
Fleets of BYD e6 taxis are in daily passenger carrying services in cities such as London (where a fleet of 32 e6s is expected to increase to 200 in the early months of next year), Brussels and Barcelona and further fleet sales are expected soon.
Work is now proceeding between BYD and RTC experts to conclude finance and leasing arrangements with a view to allowing the new fleet to be carrying passengers in Rotterdam during 2015.
(Image: A BYD e6 at the port)
About BYD
BYD Co., Ltd is a leading-edge provider of green energy technologies that specializes in the IT, automotive, and new energy industries. Being the world’s biggest rechargeable battery manufacturer, BYD also has the largest global market share for cell-phone chargers and keypads. BYD branched out into the auto business in 2003, and has kept a robust yearly growth rate successively. In 2008, Warren Buffett invested $232 million to take a 9.89% stake in BYD. Today, BYD is the fastest-growing Chinese auto company and a global pioneer in the field of new energy vehicles including Dual Mode Electric Models and Pure Electric Models.
Based on its core Fe Battery technology, BYD has worked out a Green City Solution, which aims to electrify urban public transportation systems by transitioning from gasoline and diesel buses and taxis to pure electric ones. In March 2012, BYD and Daimler AG officially announced the entirely new EV brand Denza in China.
In addition, BYD has also focused on the Research & Development and manufacturing of a wide range of new energy products, including energy storage system, solar energy products and LED lighting. For more information, please visit www.byd.com,www.byd-auto.net, www.facebook.com/bydauto or email pr@byd.com.
For more media information about BYD please contact:
BYD Europe:
Vareseweg 53-59, 3047 AT, Rotterdam
Penny Peng: +31 –102070888 penny.peng@byd.com
