Norway puts Europe’s first BYD
electric artics into service

Norway's first electric articulated buses, produced by BYD, have entered service in Oslo.

Contracted bus operator Nobina is the first in Europe to put the Chinese-built BYD articulated electric bus into operation.

Two 18m buses are running on route 31 and 31E, Norway's heaviest duty routes carrying 15m customers a year, around 50,000 a day.

Other electric buses are on trial in Norway but, unlike them, the BYD articulated ebuses do not use opportunity charging via pantographs and street facilities, but charge at the depot.

“We showed off our articulated ebus concept more than two years ago and we are delighted to see it enter passenger service,” says MD BYD Europe Isbrand Ho.

“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 deep cold of the Norwegian winter.”

The articulated ebuses run on the 17-24km Line 31 and Line 31E between Grorud and Tonsenhagen on behalf of transport authority Ruter

“We look forward to gaining valuable experience with these climate-friendly and quiet buses,” says Nobina MD Jan Volsdal.

“We are very pleased to be able to help drive the switch to green buses in Oslo in cooperation with Ruter. This is an innovative contribution to our service.”