Maintenance costs for the Chinese-built electric bus are 25% lower than the regular diesel buses and energy costs are about a 1/3.
Dan bus company plans to replace a 1/4 of its fleet with electric buses over the next 5 years at a cost of NIS 400 million ($112.6 million).
The Dan bus company rolled out its first electric bus on Tuesday as part of its campaign to replace some of its current diesel-powered fleet with fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly buses.
The energy costs of the Chinese-built electric bus are one-third those of its diesel counterpart – Phot: KOKO
“Today marks the beginning of a new era in public transportation,” Dan Chairman Michael Nagar and CEO Shmuel Rafaeli said in a joint statement at the inauguration ceremony in Tel Aviv on Monday. Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz took part in unveiling the orange electric bus.
The Dan company said that in the coming five years, a quarter of its fleet will be replaced with electric buses, at an estimated cost of 400 million shekels ($112.6 million).
“We promote the use of green public transportation in Israel, in line with the goals set by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I am sure that not only passengers will enjoy the new bus line, but those on the road, who have to deal with substantial pollution, will also feel the difference,” Katz said.
The new bus, built by Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD and imported by Clal Motors, has maintenance costs that are 25 percent lower than its diesel counterpart, and energy costs that are one-third those of a regular bus.
View original Israel Hayom publication at: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=11179
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