(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD (Build Your Dreams) has delivered two American-made battery-electric K9S buses to the Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority.
The highly reliable and safe K9S 35-ft electric bus equipped with a 266kWh iron phosphate battery and can be fully charged in 3 to 4 hours. The buses will provide Macon-Bibb County residents with quiet, zero-emission rides to their destinations.
The MTA affectionately named its new buses “Sparky” and “Bolt”
“We have been working on this bold initiative for more than two years and are delighted to leap into the future. The citizens of Macon-Bibb County will be well-served by buses that utilize this clean, safe and efficient technology,” said MTA CEO Craig Ross. “We thank John Hatch, BYD’s Regional Sales Manager, Southeast, and the factory team in Lancaster, California — all of whom have been invaluable throughout the process, including navigating a pandemic. The dual bus wrap design featuring a lightning bolt on one side and an electric plug on the other was chosen as an attention-getter highlighting our new green technology.”
“BYD transit technology is the safest and most advanced anywhere. We thank Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority for choosing BYD buses to reliably serve their community,” said Patrick Duan, BYD North America Vice President. “Our innovative battery-electric buses will help keep the air clean and lower the transit agency’s operating costs and at the same time provide customers with a comfort ride.”
BYD and Berkshire Hathaway
In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million has grown in value twenty-fold.
© 2020 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.