BYD secures battery electric school bus contract in California

Key Points

• 🚌 BYD secures a contract to include its battery-electric school buses, Achiever (Type A) and Dreamer (Type D), in the California Department of General Services (DGS) statewide electric school bus contract.
• 🔋 The BYD Achiever seats up to 30 passengers with a 141 kWh battery capacity, while the Dreamer accommodates up to 84 passengers and has a 230 kWh battery capacity.
• 📜 The California DGS contract allows fleet owners to purchase electric school buses without a guaranteed purchase amount, serving as a master contract for up to two years with possible extensions.
• 🌍 BYD’s win enables customers interested in Chinese automakers’ vehicles to acquire them directly through the California DGS contract, contributing to the adoption of zero-emission solutions in school districts across the state.
• 💰 The EPA’s Clean Bus Program, with a $1 billion budget in the 2023 fiscal year, supports the purchase of electric buses and alternatives for schools, aligning with efforts to reduce emissions on the road.

BYD recently won a contract, adding its battery-electric school bus to the California Department of General Services (DGS) statewide electric school bus contract. 

“BYD | RIDE is thrilled that our battery-electric school buses, the Achiever (Type A) and the Dreamer (Type D), are eligible for the California DGS Contract,” said Patrick Duan, BYD | RIDE Senior Vice President. “We look forward to providing zero-emission solutions to school districts throughout California and helping reduce emissions on the road.”

Fleet owners may purchase BYD’s Achiever Type A and the Dreamer Type D school bus through the contract. The BYD Achiever can seat up to 30 passengers and has a battery capacity of 141 kWh. Meanwhile, the BYD Dreamer seats up to 84 passengers and has a battery capacity of 230 kWh. BYD plans to launch a Type C school bus soon.

The California DGS’ has an umbrella contract to purchase electric school buses. The contract has no guaranteed purchase amount. It can act as a master contract for up to two years with the option to extend three times for one-year periods.

The Department of General Services (DGS) is one of the state’s 10 organizations under the California Government Operations Agency. With BYD’s win, customers interested in adding Chinese automakers’ vehicles to their fleet can purchase directly through the California DGS contract.

Last year, the EPA announced its Clean Bus Program with a spending budget of $1 billion in the 2023 fiscal year. The program helps schools buy electric buses and other alternatives.