Kraylin
Active Member
What do you know or foresee the challenge with BYD to be?
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TTC: Electric and alternative fuel buses
- Thread starter drum118
- Start date
What do you know or foresee the challenge with BYD to be?
APTA-2048
Senior Member
BYD has had a few high-profile negative stories regarding its buses.
Los Angeles returned their five trial buses after only a couple of years.
Albuquerque returned their buses and canceled their order.
Indianapolis' buses were not achieving their promised range. The buses and infrastructure were upgraded at BYD's expense.
In addition, the TTC's order with BYD wasn't off to a good start. Due to repeated delays, the TTC eventually advised BYD that it would not be exercising options for additional buses. New Flyer and Proterra would each supply another five buses. The first bus from BYD has only just arrived at Eglinton Div.
It should be noted, however, that BYD has over 30 customers in North America. And some of them, like St. Albert in Alberta, have been satisfied enough with their buses that they purchased more. Other agencies have given them another chanced and purchased more as well.
I should also say, I don't know what BYD has since changed with their buses to rectify the issues other agencies had. We'll have to see how the TTC's buses fair when they enter service.
Steve X
Senior Member
I think they would be fine for the TTC. Toronto sit on a rather flat terrain with other electric buses working well. TTC also doesn't place these buses on excessive long runs meaning at least 30% of the fleet could be converted to electric and used for rush hour or shorter weekend trips purposes only. The base service buses going from 6am to 1am the next day would still need to be fulfilled with diesel or hybrid buses. These buses not making their range is like how car manufactures lie to us with optimized fuel economy. We all know we're not getting what is said on paper with non-optimized weather and driving conditions plus bad habits. I would say BYD failed more on writing their contract trying to convince customers but we'll see once they enter service.
smallspy
Senior Member
Indianapolis' buses were also 60 foot long versions, not the 40 foot ones that seem to be fairing much better everywhere else.
Dan
W. K. Lis
Superstar
Towered
Superstar
Finally got to ride on a brand new E-bus on the 505. I was impressed - the interior seems roomier than the normal buses, it has nice hum to it rather than the irritating noise of a diesel engine, and I was really happy to see the return of a rear window! Also, they look cute with their curvy rear ends, haha.
APTA-2048
Senior Member
What did you think of the seating arrangement on the Proterra? Most people I know don’t like it. Overheard a few passengers complain about it too.
Towered
Superstar
Are the E-buses called Proterra? I didn’t notice anything about the seating...
Steve X
Senior Member
When you don't know where you're going, you might want to look out the window. Perimeter seating absolutely is the worst for that. Perfect for awkwardly staring at the person across from you.
Voltz
Senior Member
One of the three manufactures of the E-buses is Proterra, each of the three has a different seating arrangement.
Kraylin
Active Member
Do you remember the bus #? That will tell us which manufacturer's bus you were on. Proterra New Flyer or BYD
Steve X
Senior Member
Only the Proterras have a rear window and would be on the 505. There is zero guessing here plus it's been mention in the posts above.
Tunafish13
Active Member
Are TTC buying buses from all three manufacturers?
smallspy
Senior Member
The TTC has purchased buses from three different manufacturers, yes. About half of the buses from each of New Flyer and Proterra have arrived (25 buses total for each), while BYD has delivered all 10 of their buses.
Dan
APTA-2048
Senior Member
The ones that run downtown are manufactured by Proterra. Most of the seats face the aisle on those buses. At the rear, because of the size of the wheel housing, having aisle facing seats makes for a pretty narrow aisle.