Electric Buses Stretching to New Lengths

Samantha Masunaga reports on a zero-emission electric bus called the Lancaster that sets new standards for length and capacity and could be coming to cities near you soon.

"The bus runs on eight lithium iron phosphate battery modules, four to a side, that provide enough charge for more than 170 miles….In lab tests, the batteries have a life cycle of about 27 years, about twice the life span of an average bus, he said. The bus can hold up to 120 passengers."

Masunaga notes that cities like San Antonio, Pomona, and the Tri-Cities area in Washington state already run electric buses, but none reach the length of 60 feet, like the new BYD buses.

After completing a test of the bus on the Orange Line busway in Los Angeles, Metro officials gave good reviews to the bus's performance but refrained from making any purchases due to questions about range. According to Masunaga, "BYD plans to take the Lancaster up and down the state, from the Bay Area to San Diego, and up the coast, to Portland and areas of Washington, to showcase it..."