BYD has introduced its Type A battery-electric vehicle, a zero-emissions school bus. It features vehicle-to-grid technology, seats up to 30 and can be equipped with a liftgate capable of lifting 800 lb. It has a range of up to 140 miles on a single charge.

Standard safety features include a high-strength steel body, electronic stability control, and an electronic braking system to ensure braking force is distributed more evenly. Power comes from a lithium iron phosphate battery.

The bus has an additional layer of protection through its Predictive Stop Arm, which monitors approaching traffic and notifies students as they exit the bus as to when it is safe to cross a road.

Length options are 26.7, 24.5 and 22.9 ft, to cater for routes with fewer students or for transporting those with disabilities.

The bus can be fitted with three-point lap-shoulder belts, integrated child seats and portable restraints. BYD says the seats are not only designed to keep children safer, they improve student behaviour, reducing bullying and minimising driver distraction.

The driver’s area features comfort seats, a 16.5 in power steering wheel and telescopic steering column, and a high level of visibility. The driver can also control the air conditioning over the cockpit and for passengers.

A bidirectional charging capability enables the bus to be charged overnight, when energy demand is low, and clean emissions-free energy to be fed back into classrooms during school hours when the bus is parked.

BYD offers two kind of charging solutions – a 150 kW DC system and 19.2 kW single-phase AC charging.