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BYD wins contract for battery electric school bus contract in California

December 16, 2023

BYD secured a contract to supply its battery-electric school buses to the California Department of General Services (DGS). The contract includes BYD’s Achiever (Type A) and Dreamer (Type D) school buses.

The Achiever can accommodate up to 30 passengers and has a battery capacity of 141 kWh, while the Dreamer can seat up to 84 passengers and has a battery capacity of 230 kWh. BYD also has plans to introduce a Type C school bus soon.

The California DGS has a statewide contract for the purchase of electric school buses. This contract does not guarantee a specific purchase amount and can serve as a master contract for up to two years, with the option to extend three times for one-year periods.

The DGS is one of the state’s 10 organizations under the California Government Operations Agency. With BYD’s contract win, customers interested in adding vehicles from Chinese automakers to their fleet can now purchase directly through the California DGS contract.

In 2023, the EPA announced its Clean Bus Program, which has a budget of $1 billion. This program assists schools in purchasing electric buses and other alternatives.