MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Uruguay Ministry of Industry Energy and Mining together with the Ministry of Transportation, The Government of Montevideo and Uruguay’s National Utility Company (UTE) released the testing results of the BYD zero-emissions, pure-electric, 12-meter, Rapid Transit eBus (K9) and BYD e6 5-passenger pure-electric eTaxi last week. In attendance at the public announcements were the Ministers of Industry, Energy and Mining, Mr. Roberto Kreimerman, Minister of Transportation, Mr. Enrique Pintado, Mayor of Montevideo, Mrs. Ana Olivera, National Director of Energy, Mr. Ramón Mendez, President of UTE, Mr. Gonzalo Casaravilla, Mobility Director of Montevideo, Mr. Nestor Campal and several public transport operators, international finance organizations, and other national and local authorities. UTE led the evaluation projects for the BYD electric Bus and eTaxi for the past four months under the “Uruguay Electric Mobility Committee” with the cooperation of local BYD partner, CTS Auto S.A.
Mr. Casaravilla, President of UTE, introduced results in which the bus was tested for 1,279 kilometers (~800 miles) across 4 different Montevideo urban routes, at different times and with different speeds. According to the testing results, the average range of the bus was 252 km (~157 miles) per night-time charge and the average energy consumption was 1.26 kWh / km (for the 324 kWh battery pack).
The main conclusion offered by Mr. Casaravilla was that, “the BYD electric bus is ubiquitously functional operating in the Uruguay Metropolitan Transport Systems.” Minister Kreimerman (of Industry and Energy) emphasized, “Electric vehicles reduce environmental pollution, city noise pollution and national fossil-fuel dependence. Considering that the transportation sector represents over 30% of the total energy consumed in the country, it is very important to domesticate this fuel spend.” He concluded that, “The electrified public transportation is in pivotal for the country’s energy policy and the transformation to renewable energies.”
Transportation Minister Pintado said, “We must adopt new technologies in public transport arena and provide better and sustainable services to our citizens.” The Mayor of Montevideo, Mrs. Olivera, also supported that “electrified public transport is a solution to avoid green house gases (GHG) and reduce air and noise pollution.” According to the presentation of the National Director of Energy, Mr. Mendéz, “Uruguay imports 100% of their fossil fuels and so the use of electric vehicles increases national energy independence and security considering that 90% of the electricity Uruguay could be produced from renewable sources.”
The economic study presented by one of the members of the Committee, Mr. Gonzalo Marquez, showed that the life time total-cost of ownership (TCO) of an electric bus was 60% less than a standard diesel bus (considering initial purchase costs, energy re-fueling cost and the lowered maintenance cost of electric buses during operation). In the case of electric taxis analyzed, the life time total cost of ownership was estimated at 50% that of traditional gasoline taxis.
About UTE
The Uruguay National Administration of Power Plants and Power Transmissions (UTE) is a state-owned enterprise engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and the sale of electricity. To meet the demand of one million two hundred thousand customers in the 176,215 km2 country, UTE has many hydroelectric power plants, wind and heat generation facilities. The production is supplemented by energy from the Salto Grande Hydroelectric (a binational joint-venture between Argentina and Uruguay) and energy from generating plants owned by third parties.
About BYD
BYD Company Ltd. is one of China’s largest companies to have successfully expanded globally. Specializing in battery technologies, their green mission to “solve the whole problem” has made them industry pioneers and leaders in several High-tech sectors including High-efficiency Automobiles, Electrified Public Transportation, Environmentally-Friendly Energy Storage, Affordable Solar Power and Information Technology and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) services.
As the world’s largest manufacturer of rechargeable batteries, their mission to create safer and more environmentally friendly battery technologies has led to the development of the BYD Iron Phosphate (or "Fe") Battery. This fire-safe, completely recyclable and incredibly long-cycle technology has become the core of their clean energy platform that has expanded into automobiles, buses, trucks, utility vehicles and energy storage facilities. BYD and all of their shareholders, including the great American Investor Warren Buffett, see these environmentally and economically forward products as the way of the future.
BYD has made a strong entrance to the North, Central and South American markets with their battery electric buses, and lineup of automobiles. Their mission lies not just in sales growth, but also in sociological integration and local job creation as they have poured incredible investments into developing offices, dealerships and manufacturing facilities in the local communities they now call home, truly a first for Chinese companies. For more information, please visit www.byd.com/pv/ or www.facebook.com/bydcompany.
