Transmilenio will soon open the bidding process for the fleet of articulated buses for the new trunk lines of Avenida 68 and Soacha. This is according to a report in Forbes magazine.
The Chinese company BYD announced its interest in participating in the tender and gave details of how the tests of the first electric bi-articulated vehicle, whose chassis assembly was 100% made in the country, together with Hino Motors, are progressing.
Forbes details that the 18-meter-long vehicle, which will also be bodyworked by the national industry, is the first to be developed in this way by BYD in Colombia, which during its trajectory in the country has brought more than 1,470 units to Bogotá and more than 1,550 nationwide.
You may also read: BYD’s Contribution to Sustainable Mobility in Latin America
Scope
With the tender, Transmilenio seeks to acquire 296 electric buses in a first phase, with the goal of completing 636 vehicles in its electric fleet.
The first electric articulated bus in Colombia is already in operation in Bogotá. Although it has not yet been officially registered, internal tests have been carried out on the city’s streets with positive results.
Its design and capacity make it a cost-effective, self-sustainable, economical and environmentally friendly solution. This bus, designed to adapt to the most demanding BRT systems, represents a major breakthrough in urban mobility.
It is estimated that this electric vehicle will reduce between 40 and 45 tons of CO2 per year, contributing significantly to the reduction of polluting emissions.
In its first phase, it has been tested on city roads such as Calle 26, Calle 80, Carrera 30, and Avenida Suba.
BYD emphasizes that in its environmental impact, it is estimated that in its first year of operation, the bus will travel approximately 93,600 kilometers, avoiding the emission of 193 tons of CO2.
With a capacity for 250 passengers, BYD’s bi-articulated bus has a torque of 2,200 NM and a maximum power of 804 horsepower at 600 kW. Its charging time ranges between 2.5 and 3.5 hours and an approximate range of 300 kilometers.
