BYD & Long Beach Transit Win Inaugural Green Partners CleanTech Award

As a result of Long Beach Transit’s zero-emissions battery-electric bus program, the Long Beach–Qingdao Sister City Association has awarded Long Beach Transit and BYD with its inaugural Green Partners CleanTech Award, according to an email sent to EV Obsession and CleanTechnica.

The award is meant to give credit to the two organizations for their positive effect on the environment and air quality of Long Beach — through the zero-emissions bus program.

“BYD is very proud to accept this award — but we’re even more proud to have our buses on the streets of Long Beach,” stated Stella Li, President of BYD America. “Bringing jobs to Southern California while making the air cleaner is one of the ultimate win-win situations, and I thank LBQA (the Long Beach–Qingdao Sister City Association) for this new tradition of honoring partnerships that protect the environment and grow the economy.”

In addition to above references to improved air quality, it should be remembered that all-electric buses such as BYD’s are notably quieter than diesel equivalents. While that may not sound particularly important, a transition away from diesel buses would certainly lower sound pollution levels within cities — in addition to air pollution levels.

Furthermore, the buses are smoother, a benefit for riders and drivers.

The recent email provides some background: “In April 2015, LBT’s Board of Directors selected BYD as its vendor to bring electric buses to the City of Long Beach and the twelve other cities the transit agency serves. The program includes 10 battery electric buses (and the option to buy 14 more) as well as a wireless charging system for opportunity charging en route. LBT officials expect to have their battery electric buses in service by the end of next month and intend to have the Passport route, a loop running from Downtown Long Beach to waterfront attractions such as the Aquarium of the Pacific and The Queen Mary, 100% battery operated.”

While BYD currently does most of its business in China, subsidiary BYD America has been growing rapidly as of late. BYD America is currently based out of downtown Los Angeles and assembles buses for sale within the region at its Lancaster, California, manufacturing facility.

Photo by Kyle Field | CleanTechnica (CC BY-SA 4.0), via CleanTechnica.pics