Paris, France has introduced a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The LEZ area sees the first pure electric coach enter service from the world’s leading electric bus and coach manufacturer, BYD.

Produced at the Chinese company’s factory in Beauvais, the pure-electric, zero-emission 13-metre coach has a 59-seat capacity and will be put into operation in the coming days. The electric coach boasts an average single-charge range of 200 kilometres and can be recharged in a few hours. The vehicle will provide the same services as a diesel coach for school, extracurricular activities and general transport services for groups traveling.

The introduction of the BYD electric coach forms part of Île-de-France’s plan to protect the environment and to promote the use of the cleanest vehicles. The aim is also to deliver a rapid impact on improving air quality and so limit the local population’s exposure to pollution.

BYD ‘e Coach’ Passengers from the City of Drancy, will be able to move around Paris with complete peace-of-mind and without contributing to CO₂ emissions. The vehicle will provide access to an ever-increasing number of cultural and sporting activities for the people of Drancy: young people, old people, sportsmen and women and associations.

An official hand-over ceremony took place in Drancy in front of the château in the Ladoucette municipal park, attended by Mrs. Aude Lagarde, Mayor of Drancy, Mr. Jean-Christophe Lagarde, Member of Parliament & Metropolitan Councillor, and a representative from BYD France. 

Mrs. Lagarde, Mayor of Drancy, said: “The City of Drancy already has a significant number of clean cars – 95% electric. In order to continue our commitment to a more ecological transport infrastructure, and to continue to provide a transport service to the people of Drancy while respecting the environment, we wanted to invest in a high-performance electric coach. Our new BYD electric coach has sufficient autonomy for our needs and has accessibility for wheelchair users, too. I would like to thank our partners who helped to cover half of the cost of this investment, the Seine-Saint-Denis Prefecture in support of public investment with €100,000, but also La Métropole du Grand Paris, where Jean-Christophe Lagarde is based to represent the interests of our city, and which gave us a subsidy of €129,000.” 

Mr. Isbrand Ho, Managing Director, BYD Europe added: “We are proud that our pure electric and zero-emission coach will be contributing to improving the quality of life for passengers – particularly the children – in Drancy and, more broadly, in Greater Paris. In the coming weeks, other municipalities in the Ile-de-France region will receive their first BYD electric coaches so that, along with the pioneering town of Drancy, they can continue to take their school and extra-curricular outings in the city of Paris.”