The red “Boris Bus” in London could be discontinued after BYD has lined up a serious competition.
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The Chinese manufacturer BYD has presented its BD11 bus at the London Bus Museum with hopes to soon launch in the capital.
The new double-decker is powered by a 532kWh Blade battery which is the largest of any commercial vehicle available in the UK.
The powerful battery allows it to run nonstop for 400 miles – double what the current London buses travel in a day.
The BD11, painted in the familiar red, boasts a passenger capacity of 90 people, depending on configuration.
It can be charged via both 500kW pantograph (overhead) connection or the conventional charging ports at depots and public stations.
Just like BYD cars, the buses can use one extra charger at a time to boost its charging speed – taking it from 0% to 100% in only two hours.
The Chinese manufacturer also touts its vehicle’s durability and safety, maintaining that BD11 can operate for up to 20 years.
BD11 is estimated to cost UK taxpayers £400,000 each, which is £100,000 cheaper than British counterparts, the Sunday Times reported.
The Chinese firm has already racked up a 1800 bus fleet in the UK after it first its product here 11 years ago.
But it is now hoping to replace Wrightbus’s New Routemaster as the main London bus.
The current hybrid “Boris buses” – which gained their nickname after Boris Johnson backed the idea – have been slowly phasing out in a bid to make TfL all-electric by 2030.
BYD UK’s commercial vehicle managing director Frank Thorpe said: “We genuinely believe it’s a game-changing product in terms of its efficiency, safety and commercial appeal. We believe it’s going to be significant
“We’ve had a fantastic reaction from operators and stakeholders – the Department for Transport, Transport for London – and we’re now going to prove what we say.
“That’s the key: we can say all sorts, but we’ve got to prove that is the best bus for the UK public, taxpayers and stakeholders.”
The BD11 are set to reach the capital by the third quarter of 2024, followed by a single-decker a few months later.
A “provincial” double-decker with lowered roof are also expected to land in the UK towards the end of 2025.