BYD announced the City of Ocala, Florida, will add five Class 8 battery-electric refuse trucks to its fleet. This makes it one of the first cities in Florida to adopt BYD’s innovative zero-emission technology. The members of a US union labor will assemble the trucks. The City Council pre-approved the 2021 purchase of three clean-electric BYD refuse trucks and will buy two more in 2022. Furthermore, the BYD vehicles will replace older model internal combustion powered trucks that are currently in use.
“The community of Ocala has taken a leadership role in Florida with the purchase of these BYD electric trucks,” says John Gerra, senior director of business development with BYD Motors. “All BYD trucks are purpose-built and utilize our proprietary safe battery technology that exceeds the requirements for some of the most rigorous safety-testing programs around the world.”
Ocala officials estimate the operation of BYD trucks will result in fuel cost savings of nearly 78%. Additionally, with BYD trucks’ fewer moving parts, the city estimates a cost savings of nearly 75% in maintenance. BYD trucks will also provide an estimated total life cycle savings to Ocala of approximately $270,000. It will also provide a return on the taxpayers’ investment in under five years.
Find out more, visit www.en.byd.com.
