BYD articulated e-buses make European debut on Norway’s busiest routes

Put into service for the first time in Europe, Nobina brought the Chinese produced BYD articulated electric bus into operation in Norway.

The two 18m buses are running on route 31 and 31E; Norway’s heaviest duty routes. The routes are operated by Nobina on behalf of Ruter (PTA) and carry approximately 15 million customers a year; 50,000 daily travellers.

“We look forward to gaining valuable experience with these climate-friendly and quiet buses,” said Jan Volsdal, Managing Director of Nobina. “We are very pleased to be able to help drive the switch to green buses in Oslo. This is an innovative contribution to our service”

Other electric buses are on trial in Norway with the intention to increase the fleet of electric public transportation across the country. However unlike these, the BYD articulated buses do not use opportunity charging via pantographs and street facilities but instead charge at the depot.

“We are delighted to see our concept enter passenger-carrying service,” said Isbrand Ho, Managing Director of BYD Europe. “Conditions in Oslo are challenging for electric vehicles but we have every confidence that our ebuses will perform well in this heavily trafficked route, even in the Norwegian winter.”

The articulated ebuses running on Line 31 and Line 31E operate between Grorud and Tonsenhagen, a distance of 17-24 km.