SEEN IN WEST SEATTLE: Metro battery-electric test bus

While walking in The Junction at midday today, we spotted that bus, unmarked except for a small Metro logo. We asked Metro about it, and spokesperson Torie Rynning explained:

The coach you spotted is one of Metro’s leased 40-foot-long battery-electric buses by BYD, currently in revenue service as we test and evaluate its performance. We currently have leased test buses in revenue service from New Flyer, Proterra, and BYD. Leasing buses from different manufacturers allows us to quickly collect data, learn how they perform in all four seasons, and develop new systems and procedures for how we operate. We’re learning as much as we can as quickly as we can, and applying that to our decision-making process for our future bus fleet purchases.

Just last week, Metro announced a plan to buy more battery-electric buses, from New Flyer.

BusStop February 3, 2020 (6:46 pm)

A quick search reveals that BYD is a Chinese company, as in a state run business. New Flyer is Canadian and Proterra is American. Could the City not find other American companies to compete for what is likely to be a pretty lucrative contract? Not to mention privacy issues. NPR ran a story about BYD’s ability to monitor the passengers on the bus and use facial recignition software to identify individuals. They promise not to do it (lol). Given China’s well established record of human rights abuses I’m not giving them the benefit if the doubt on this one and the City shouldn’t either. In fact, given their continued human rights violations why is the city allowing them to compete for this contract at all?

WSB February 3, 2020 (7:15 pm)

Metro is not the city, it’s the county. That aside, it appears BYD makes at least some of its electric buses in the U.S.
Peter February 3, 2020 (7:47 pm)

“ Could the City not find other American companies to compete for what is likely to be a pretty lucrative contract?” No, just there aren’t that many bus manufacturers, and no others I know if in the US who make this type of vehicle.
- BusStop February 3, 2020 (9:29 pm)
  
  Peter- According to Wikipedia there are at least two others in the US and at least a dozen others in the Canada, the UK and the EU. It’s not like the county (thanks for clarification WSB) has no other choice but to short list BYD. Here’s a good overview on China by Human Rights Watch. Too bad county leaders don’t have access to such information https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/china-and-tibet
  - Eric1 February 4, 2020 (12:25 pm)
    
    Busstop. Every country has dirty “secrets”. The United States isn’t free from human rights violations in its history. And just because we cleaned up that aspect of our society (as WE define it), we are still the #1 exporter of arms and terror in the world. I agree that we could pressure all countries to do better by making ethical purchases regarding the buses. Just make sure the US company isn’t part of the military-industrial complex too.
Pdx77 February 3, 2020 (10:03 pm)

While New Flyer is a Canadian company, they do have a major manufacturing plant in Minnesota.My understanding is Metro had major issues with the Proterra busses they were testing, and was not suitable for what they need. (I heard that they could only go 21 miles or so on a charge, and had major issues with the hills, etc).Yes, BYD is a Chinese company but has a manufacturing plant in California.The only other US bus manufacture they could go with is GILLIG. But they do not make 60 foot electric busses, and Metro wants 60 foot busses.Metro really has no choice…
Pdx77 February 3, 2020 (10:20 pm)

Regarding BYD, I think it is wise for Metro to look / test all options that are available (not many are available) before they make their decision and award a future contract.Just because they are testing the bus does not mean they are going to win the contract. Although other cities have ordered some of their busses.I don’t know much about the allegations that BYD is spying on the passengers, I can say that the busses Metro would get are all being manufactured in California… I would think local politicians, factory workers etc would take note if that was indeed the case for their US busses.

John Smith February 3, 2020 (10:01 pm)

Metro bus drivers might prefer a protective cage/whatever (to prevent physical assaults on drivers) instead of new buses with the latest and greatest batteries/motors.

Airwolf February 4, 2020 (8:03 am)

they just want to get the best bus possible for us riders iregardless of brand or country

Jim Skeen February 4, 2020 (8:56 am)

BYD is not a state-owned business. It is a private company whose largest shareholder is Warren Buffett. BYD makes its buses for the North American market in Lancaster, Calif. Its factory workers are represented by SMART LOCAL 105 and the company has an agreement with Jobs to Move America that spells out priority hiring for veterans, second chance workers, minorities, and women. All of its buses built for American transit agencies meet and exceed federal “Buy America” standards. Any camera equipment installed on a bus is done so at the customer’s request. BYD has neither the inclination or expertise to make spyware. I know this because I am one of the company’s Lancaster workers.

Sarchka February 4, 2020 (9:49 am)

This is great. Having lived in other cities that still used stinky old buses from the 90s I can’t tell you how much I appreciate Metro sometimes.

Crispy February 10, 2020 (8:23 pm)

I enjoy the buses in china so much more. Especially the double deckers with the wide body chairs on the lower level. Imo China is more advanced in the public transit game. The MTR make our light rail look like a joke.

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