Kansas City International Airport has received a delivery of four battery-electric 30ft (9m) buses from manufacturer BYD. The first electric buses for airport passenger service in the USA will serve as shuttle buses between the parking lots and airport terminal.
BYD customized the buses for Kansas City International to include luggage racks for passenger use. The company built the four zero-emission, battery-electric buses at its coach and bus manufacturing facility in Lancaster, California, after Kansas City Council approved the order in November 2016.
Pat Klein, Kansas City’s director of aviation, said, “The Kansas City Aviation Department has long been at the forefront in implementing the latest in environmentally friendly programs and vehicles. In 1997, we deployed a fleet of the first compressed natural gas mass transit vehicles in regular use in Kansas City. We are one-upping that milestone by purchasing these electric buses to further lessen fleet emissions.”
Macy Neshati, senior vice president for heavy industries at BYD, added, “BYD is proud to work with Kansas City International Airport to provide these four buses with zero tailpipe emissions, giving airport passengers a cleaner and healthier ride.
“Kansas City International Airport will enjoy cost savings by operating the BYD battery-electric buses because they reduce fuel and maintenance costs by tens of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the bus.”
