| BYD K9 (Gemilang) | |
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| Manufacturer | Changsha BYD Coach |
| Bodywork | Gemilang Coachworks Sdn Bhd |
| Years in operation | 2019—Present |
| Operators | TBA |
| Technical Data | |
| Length | 12 metre |
| Motor | BYD-TYC90A |
| Accessibility | Low floor |
| Emission Standard | Zero tailpipe emissions |
The BYD K9 (alternatively, the BYD electric bus or BYD ebus) is a fully electric, low-floor single-deck city bus manufactured by BYD in China. The Chinese manufacturer sells electric buses of different lengths and sizes for local and international markets.
20 units of the BYD K9 bus were procured by the Land Transport Authority in 2018 as part of efforts to build a more environmentally friendly public bus fleet. In total, 60 electric buses were procured from three separate manufacturers at a total sum of S$50.64 million. While primarily offered as an integral bus, these BYD K9 buses for Singapore were bodied by Gemilang Coachworks, based in Malaysia. The local units are likely to be designated as the BYD K9R (To be confirmed).
Bus operators in China are primary customers of the BYD K9, with units operating in multiple Chinese cities. In addition to strong success in the domestic market, similar BYD electric city buses have been successfully exported overseas, with large-volume orders entering service in cities across Europe, North America, South America and Asia, in addition to small-scale trials in many other regions.
Background
The 12-metre BYD K9 bus incorporates large-capacity Lithium-Iron-Phosphate batteries which allow the bus to travel 250km on a single charge, under urban road conditions.
The first BYD K9 rolled off the production line in Changsha, China on 30 September 2010. An initial 200 units were delivered to the Shenzhen public transit system to serve the 2011 Summer Universiade, and subsequently remained in regular service with the local bus system. BYD has since expanded its production to other parts of China as well as overseas.
Singapore Trial History
Main Article: Go-Ahead Singapore BYD Electric Bus Trial
First BYD K9 Trial (Click to expand)
In June 2011, SMRT Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BYD to enter discussions on a joint venture of distributing BYD K9 buses and e6 taxis in Singapore. SMRT Buses was concurrently running a trial of a Zhongtong diesel-electric hybrid bus, which was subsequently rejected.
The BYD electric vehicles did not materialise in Singapore for 4 years. Panorama Melaka of Malaysia received a trial unit of the BYD K9 in 2013 with the chassis number LC06S24S3D00000002. Its interior specifications were similar to that of SMRT’s buses, featuring Vogelsitze seats with purple and red PVC seat covers, as well as a foldable seat similar to that installed on MAN A22 buses. This led to suspicion that SMRT had rejected its BYD K9 electric buses.
In April 2015, Singapore saw its first BYD K9 bus, which was brought in by HDT Singapore Holding (the sole Singapore agent of BYD Co. Ltd back then). This bus was parked inside Nanyang Technological University’s campus for inspection (April to July 2015), and was later shipped to Jakarta for a while before returning.
Go-Ahead Singapore trialled the bus (registered SG4001J) on revenue service for a little more than six months from November 2016 to May 2017 to assess the suitability of e-buses for public transport. The e-bus trial was part of an electric vehicle (EV) testbed led by LTA and the Economic Development Board to trial fleet-based EV operations. Charging equipment and infrastructure was installed at Go-Ahead‘s depot in Loyang.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
After the trial, it was re-registered as PC6264K. Owned by BYD Singapore, it was also leased out to Tong Tar Transport Service Pte Ltd. As of July 2019, the bus was regularly sighted on the Downtown East Lunchtime Shuttle Bus.
As an expansion of the trial, the Government later moved to procure 60 more electric buses as surfaced during the Committee of Supply Debate 2017.
The BYD K9 chassis has also been offered with bodywork by Alexander Dennis and marketed as the Enviro200 EV. The bus has seen service in London, Liverpool and Auckland.
Regions with volume orders of the BYD K9 include Ruhr (Germany), Copenhagen (Denmark), Eskilstuna (Sweeden), Amsterdam Schiphol Airport & Schiermonnikoog (Netherlands), Brussels Airport (Belgium), Beauvais (France), Milan, Turin, Novara & Padua (Italy), Madrid, Badalona & Badajoz (Spain), Warsaw (Poland), Haifa, Tel Aviv & Jerusalem (Israel), Alexandria (Egypt), Cape Town (South Africa), Anaheim & Los Angeles (USA), St. Albert (Canada), Santiago (Chile), Mendoza (Argentina), Guayaquil (Ecuador), Medellín (Columbia), Salgótarján (Hungary), Bangalore & New Delhi (India), Canberra, Sydney & Brisbane (Australia), Kaohsiung & other cities (Taiwan), Kyoto & Okinawa (Japan), Daejeon (South Korea), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), among other regions.
Powered solely by electrical energy, the bus produces zero tailpipe emissions, which improves air quality in cities. Its batteries are environmentally-friendly, non-toxic and can be recycled. It also claims considerable savings in running costs as compared to regular diesel-powered buses.
Find out more about Electric Buses in Singapore here.
Introduction
The BYD K9 for the Singapore market is built on the BYD D9RA chassis and bodied by Gemilang Coachworks in Malaysia. The bus is primarily offered as an integral bus built by BYD in China, and is one of many electric vehicles offered by BYD.
At the heart of the electric bus are its high-capacity Iron phosphate batteries, which store the electric power needed to power the bus. A full charge provides sufficient energy for over 250 kilometres of usage—suitable for most urban bus routes. The bus is propelled by two wheel-hub-motors driving the rear wheels—thus not requiring a gearbox, driveshaft or differential componentry.
| Basic Technical Specifications | |
| Electric Motor | 2x BYD-TYC90A Brushless AC synchronous motors Wheel-hub motors rated at 90kW / 350 Nm each. Combined power/torque output of 180 kW / 700 Nm. Regenerative braking capabilities + Front and rear disc brakes |
| Battery | BYD Iron-Phosphate battery (Capacity TBC / 348 kWh as default) Depot charger: 150 kW overnight charging system (supplied by ABB) |
| Bodywork | Gemilang Coachworks bodywork ‘EcoRange’ aluminium bus body |
| EDS | LECIP Electronic Display Sign Orange LED Matrix; Mounted on Front, Left side and Rear |
| PIDS | LECIP OBC-VISION Passenger Information Display System LED text displays, LCD display screens and interior speakers |
| Passenger Capacity | TBC |
| Additional Specifications | Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS) Smart Monitoring and Diagnosing System (SMDS) Low-voltage electricity management system with self-diagnosis |
Gemilang Coachworks of Malaysia has previously bodied BYD K9 buses for the Hong Kong market, with 14 ordered by Transport International Holdings. Entering service in 2017, ten units were delivered to Kowloon Motor Bus and four units were delivered to Long Win Bus. In addition, it bodied 15 BYD K9 buses for Rapid Bus in Kuala Lumpur, deployed on the BRT Sunway Line, and lent its expertise towards the development of the Carbridge TORO electric bus, which is built on a BYD K9 chassis.
The BYD D9RA chassis were initially spotted by Facebook page BusLanes in May 2019 at Hong Kong port, in transit from Shanghai (China) to Port Klang (Malaysia). [Link]
Gallery:
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
External Links & References:
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Original publish date: 28 September 2019