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BYD aims to replace Routemaster with 400-mile EV London bus

The BD11 has a battery capacity of up to 532kWh - the largest of any commercial EV currently available in the UK

BYD touts the proven safety and durability credentials of its trademark Blade battery technology (as also deployed in its electric cars) as a key factor in the BD11's appeal, suggesting it can remain in operation for between 12 and 20 years. The SMMT said more than 40% of the UK's single- and double-deckers are now zero-emission and "buses are leading Britain's race to transport decarbonisation as Europe's biggest market for the very greenest road passenger vehicles". The SMMT has called for greater support for fleets of all sizes to go electric – a challenge it said is made particularly difficult by the tight operating margins in this sector and the fact that passenger numbers fell sharply when the Covid pandemic hit in 2020.

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