Tag: BYD Co

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BYD’s Pure-Electric Buses Hit the Streets in London

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Double-decker buses are synonymous with London, and soon they will be synonymous with clean, pollution-free transportation.

Chinese battery and vehicle manufacturer BYD Co. Ltd. has delivered the first of a fleet of five pure-electric double-decker buses that will shortly be entering service on Route 98 operated on behalf of TfL by Metroline.

BYD is working with TfL and Metroline on an introduction program, which includes driver training and the installation of fast charging equipment at Metroline’s Willesden Bus Garage in north London.

The 100% BYD designed and developed vehicle is 10.2m long, features full air conditioning, and offers seats for a total 54 passengers with a further 27 standees spaces (total passengers: 81).

The bus is powered by BYD’s Iron Phosphate batteries that deliver 345 kWh of power, and can run for up to 190 miles of typical urban driving according to the internationally recognized SORT test conditions.

Recharging the bus takes just four hours and can be completed overnight using low-cost off-peak electricity. The single charge cycle is expected to be more than enough to handle most daily duty cycles.

“The Mayor of London challenged us saying that he did not believe an electric double decker was technically feasible but we took up the challenge and in less than two years created the bus Londoners can see today,” said Isbrand Ho, Managing Director of BYD Europe. “This is not a hybrid bus but a totally emissions free product which will give London a world leading position in its efforts to improve air quality.”

Leon Daniels, TfL’s Managing Director for Surface Transport, said: “BYD are a brilliant supplier. They lead the world in electric bus technology and we thank them for their efforts to make this new double decker a reality.”

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares, and today owns roughly 9.1% of the company.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the 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.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions

India Latest Country for BYD’s Pure-Electric Buses

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Bangalore has been dubbed the “Silicon Valley of India,” but it’s also a city choked by air pollution that on some days is twice as bad as Delhi’s notorious pollution.  And as much as 20% of the city’s total exhaust is produced by diesel buses.

Those skies took the first tiny step to becoming cleaner, as Chinese battery and vehicle manufacturer BYD Co. Ltd. has sold its first pure-electric bus to the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation.

“Operating electric buses not only to initialize and support new technologies, shows our respect to the city and urban residents with our social and environmental responsibility,” stated the Transportation Minister.

Although the electric bus comes with a higher initial price tag, officials expressed confidence that the total cost of ownership for the vehicle would make initial investments well-worth the price.

“The list of vehicle benefits is long; including the fact that it is quiet, does not pollute, and has low operational and maintenance costs. The bus has been operating successfully in various European countries besides China,” officials said.

Lower Cost of Fuel

Given the difference of the electricity price and diesel price, the BYD electric bus is not only zero emission but also has higher economic value.

Traditional diesel buses consume 0.55 L of diesel per kilometer in India, but by comparison, BYD’s 40 foot all-electric bus only consumes about 1 Kwh electric per kilometer (with no HVAC). The results are that millions in cost savings can be realized in Bangalore.

Last year, the Indian government reviewed the “national electric vehicle plan (2020)” and announced that India planned to put in place as many as 6-7 million new energy vehicles by 2020. The national heavy industry ministry is responsible for implementing the plan.

“The ambitious plan will promote the development of new energy automobile industry, the industry enterprises with large scale operating experience and strong technical strength, such as BYD will benefit the most,” a Hong Kong based observer said.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares, and today owns roughly 9.1% of the company.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the 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.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions

SolTrans Orders Pure-Electric Buses From BYD

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Chinese battery and vehicle manufacturer BYD Co. Ltd. continues to make advances in the U.S. bus market, picking up its first pure-electric bus orders for the public transit system serving the southern California cities of Vallejo and Benicia.

The Solano County Transit (SolTrans) in Vallejo, California, has ordered two forty-foot zero emission electric buses from BYD’s U.S. division, BYD Coach & Bus. The buses will go into service in the summer of 2016.

BYD notes its K9 40-foot bus is the most popular electric bus platform in the world, with more than 6,000 now running in revenue service in cities from Los Angeles, to London and Hong Kong.

Public transit systems are increasingly turning to pure-electric buses as they work to meet stricter carbon emission goals. The prior generation of hybrid buses are now aging out of service, and BYD’s pure-electric buses are ready replacements.

“This is a historic moment for Solano County,” said Mona Babauta, Executive Director of SolTrans. “This decision, supported by the SolTrans board of directors, is an excellent example of the forward-thinking attitude towards technology and transportation that contributes to making Solano County a great place to live. ”Our decision to go electric includes taking positive steps towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing our dependence on petroleum, and cleaner air,” continued Babauta. In addition “these buses are whisper-quiet, and will drastically reduce noise pollution along their daily routes.”

BYD’s Battery Electric bus employs many advanced technologies developed in-house by a staff of more than 15,000 R&D engineers, and includes the BYD Iron-Phosphate battery which boasts the only 12-year-battery warranty in the industry. Combined with BYD’s proprietary in-wheel hub motors and regenerative braking system, the BYD battery electric bus offers the lowest life cycle cost of ownership. The BYD electric bus delivers a host of operational and environmental benefits for public transit riders, bus operators and residents of the community — it is very quiet and ensures a comfortable ride without vibrations, jerks or the noise associated with the conventional buses and combustion engines. The bus can also drive for more than 155 miles, even in heavy city traffic, on a single charge.

As of April 1st, 2015, BYD bus fleets had completed greater than 100 million miles in revenue service, and have been evaluated by more than 150 cities in 36 countries around the world.

To date, BYD has built over 7,000 electric buses globally, making it by far the most popular electric transit vehicle on the planet.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares, and today owns roughly 9.1% of the company.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the 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.

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Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD’s B-Box Takes on Tesla’s Powerwall

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Tesla gained a lot of attention in May of 2015 when it announced its Powerwall home battery, a rechargeable 7-10 kwh lithium-ion battery that could be used by solar panel owners to store power when the sun doesn’t shine. For some, it pointed the way towards living completing off the grid. Tesla is not the only company eyeing the home electric power storage market.

BYD Co. Ltd. – the world’s largest supplier of rechargeable batteries – and GoodWe Power Supply Technology Co. Ltd. have announced the full compatibility of BYD’s B-Box Modular Energy Storage System with GoodWe’s ES and BP Series Inverters to provide households with efficiency in home energy storage.

Unlike Tesla, which uses lithium-ion batteries, BYD’s B-Box uses BYD’s fire-safe, completely recyclable and long-cycle Iron-Phosphate battery, which it notes features high thermal stability.

According to BYD, the B-Box features a wide range of output power to meet heavy load applications, high discharge currency, free and flexible utilization for off-grid and on-grid usage, as well as worldwide applicability.

As a modular energy storage system, the BYD B-Box features additional usage freedom and flexibility with the key advantage of easy expansion. In the B-BOX 10.0, each module has a 2.5KWh storage capacity, and the box can house up to four modules, for a maximum of 10KWh capacity. The B-Box10.0 can also be laid out in parallel, reaching a maximum capacity of 80KWh. BYD has also launched the B-BOX 12.8, which can reach a maximum capacity of 409kwh when paralleled with multiple boxes.

The BYD B-BOX is already on sale in many European countries including Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, as well as in Australia and Africa.

As BYD moves forward, Tesla has scaled its highly-touted home power storage plans, dropping it previously announced but never marketed 10 kwh Powerwall. Tesla instead will market only the 7 kwh Daily Powerwall.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares, and today owns roughly 9.1% of the company.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the 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.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions

BYD Receives Big Pure-Electric Bus Order from AVTA

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA), which serves some 450,000 residents of the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, California, and the unincorporated portions of northern Los Angeles County, has ordered up to 85 pure-electric buses from China’s BYD Company Limited.

The buses will be built at BYD’s manufacturing facility in Lancaster, California.

Berkshire Hathaway owns roughly 9.1% of the company, and Berkshire’s stake is worth roughly $12.3 billion.

“BYD Coach and Bus is proud to partner with AVTA on its groundbreaking decision to completely electrify its fleet,” said Stella Li, president of BYD Motors. “With more than 6,000 electric buses deployed world wide and 90 million miles of dependable service already accumulated, we know that our technology will help AVTA save money and improve local air quality. Pure-electric powered transportation is no longer in the future – it’s here now. I hope other transit agencies in California and across the country take note and follow the example AVTA has set today.”

AVTA notes that it is anticipating a cost savings as a result of electrifying its fleet. Over the lifetime of the new electric bus fleet, the transit agency forecasts it could save more than $46 million compared to an all diesel bus fleet, equivalent to $46,000 per bus per year in savings. And, by reducing dependence on foreign oil imports, AVTA will no longer be subject to oil price volatility for its bus fleet. This will help create greater stability for budget forecasting for the fleet manager – an important factor for a public agency.

The AVTA expects to take delivery of 29 electric buses within the next 12 months and is working to secure additional grant funding from the Air Resources Board to purchase another 17 buses.

“This is a historic day for AVTA which has been working diligently to secure grant funding to purchase these state-of-the- art zero-emission vehicles,” said Len Engel, executive director of AVTA. “We are proud to be the first transit system to adopt a goal of ‘100% Green in 2018’ and we look forward to leading the nation toward a new alternative in public transportation.”

Additional benefits AVTA will see as a result of electrifying its entire fleet include:

• Noise Pollution Reduction: noise pollution will be reduced by 50 percent, making it a more pleasant ride for bus operators and transit passengers.

• Emissions Reductions: AVTA’s all-electric fleet will provide elimination of CO2, NOx, PM10 and PM2.5, thereby improving air quality and positively impacting human health.

• Safer Work Environment for Technicians: The electric batteries are safe, thermal runaway proof, non-toxic, and maintenance free. There are no diesel or diesel emission fluids needed for bus maintenance, providing a safer and healthier working environment for vehicle technicians.

BYD’s Pure-Electric Buses Around the Globe

BYD’s electric buses have been hot sellers not only in China, but around the world, with orders from the U.S, Brazil, Columbia, England, Malaysia and Thailand.

In September 2015, BYD scored a massive order in the U. S. from the state of Washington. BYD won a contract from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for up to 800 pure electric buses.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the 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.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions

BYD Profits Surge as Electric Vehicle Sales Soar

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

BYD Company Limited, the Chinese battery and vehicle-maker that is 9% owned by Berkshire Hathaway, saw its net profits in 2015 grow a dramatic 550% to 2.82 billion yuan ($431 million).

The growth comes as BYD took over the number one position as the world’s top selling EV manufacturer.

BYD was only ranked seventh in 2014, and its position as the global leader comes while it has yet to retail its EV cars in the United States.

BYD’s success is due in part to the popularity of its Qin sedan and Tang SUV in China, and on the growing sales of its pure-electric buses, not only in China, but around the world.

BYD has pure-electric bus orders from the U.S, Brazil, Columbia, England, Malaysia and Thailand.

In September 2015, BYD scored a massive order in the U. S. from the state of Washington. BYD won a contract from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for up to 800 pure electric buses.

On the auto front, the company will introduce two new models in 2016, the SUVs Song and Yuan.

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential and purchased 225 million shares, and today owns roughly 9.1% of the company.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the 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.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD Debuts 15-Meter Pure Electric Bus in Brazil

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Electric bus manufacturer BYD Co. Ltd, which makes pure electric buses in sizes big and small, has debuted its biggest one yet, a 15-meter bus now in service in São Paulo, Brazil.

The bus, model K10A, is a public transit bus designed for urban settings, and has its batteries stored in the floor of the vehicle.

In addition to the K10A, BYD makes a wide range of pure electric transit buses, including the K7 (8 meters), the K9 (12 meters) and the K11 (18 meters).

According to BYD, the K10A carries up to 95 passengers, has five doors and also relies on the proprietary technology of the BYD Iron-Phosphate Battery, a fire-safe, long-cycle and extended lifetime battery which is totally clean and recyclable. The battery pack enables the K10A to achieve a driving range of around 265 km on a single charge, making the bus capable of covering most of the public transportation routes in Brazil.

The batteries feature a 6,000-cycle lifespan and guarantee of over 15 years of operation. Just like the other BYD buses in Brazil, the K10A features regenerative braking and highly efficient in-wheel motors, making it possible for the bus floor to be lower, greatly simplifying maintenance and significantly reducing operational costs.

São Paulo already has a BYD K9 bus run by Ambiental transport operators.

Berkshire and BYD

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential and purchased 225 million shares, and today owns roughly 9.1% of the company.

At the time, Warren Buffett said: “”We are thrilled to be partners with BYD and the people of China. Mr. Wang Chuanfu has an extraordinary managerial record, and we welcome the opportunity to work with him.”

The move has certainly worked out well for Berkshire, as BYD’s electric buses have been hot sellers not only in China, but around the world.

In September 2015, BYD scored a massive order in the U. S. from the state of Washington. BYD won a contract from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for up to 800 pure electric buses.

BYD’s electric car business is booming as well, and it is now the number one seller of electric cars worldwide with 11% of the market share.

Berkshire’s stake in BYD is worth roughly $12.3 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the 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.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions

BYD’s 300 Electric Buses Just the Start for Chinese City of Shanwei

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

With air pollution in China making headlines almost daily, BYD Co. Ltd., the Chinese battery and vehicle-maker that is 9% owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is providing 300 pure electric buses to the Chinese city of Shanwei, in Guangdong Province. The electric buses are the first of what could be thousands for the city in the next three years.

BYD will be gradually adding the buses to the city’s public transportation fleet as the city sets ambitious goals for electric bus transportation for the city’s 409,000 population.

According to BYD, the city is purchasing the BYD K7, an 8-meter, 23-seat pure electric bus running on BYD’s proprietary Iron-Phosphate batteries, which give it a driving range of up to 240km on a single charge.

The battery packs are placed on the roof and floor, making it quite spacious inside. It also features in-wheel motors, which saves a lot in terms of maintenance costs, as well as one-button-start system and continuously variable transmission. The company touts the model as ideal for urban transit or as an airport shuttle.

Not Hundreds of Buses, Thousands

The city of Shanwei plans to have 1,810 pure electric buses in service by the end of 2017. Additionally, 1,200 units of 6-to-8-meter new energy buses will be used as short-distance transit buses in urban areas and shuttle buses in suburban areas between 2017 and 2019.

By 2019, the city of Shanwei will have a total of 3,010 pure electric buses in operation. It is the first city in China to make large-scale use of the BYD K7.

Berkshire and BYD

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential and purchased 225 million shares, and today owns roughly 9.1% of the company.

At the time, Warren Buffett said: “”We are thrilled to be partners with BYD and the people of China. Mr. Wang Chuanfu has an extraordinary managerial record, and we welcome the opportunity to work with him.”

The move has certainly worked out well for Berkshire, as BYD’s electric buses have been hot sellers not only in China, but around the world.

In September 2015, BYD scored a massive order in the U. S. from the state of Washington. BYD won a contract from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for up to 800 pure electric buses.

BYD’s electric car business is booming as well, and it is now the number one seller of electric cars worldwide.

Berkshire’s stake in BYD is worth roughly $1.77 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the 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.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD Moves into First Place in Worldwide EV Sales

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

The headlights flashing to pass you on the autobahn just might be coming from an EV built by BYD Company Ltd.

Chinese auto and battery-maker BYD Company Ltd has zoomed into the number one position as the world’s top selling EV manufacturer.

Nissan, Mitsubishi, Tesla, Volkswagen and BMW rounded out the top five, in that order.

BYD Co Ltd, which Berkshire Hathaway holds a minority stake in of nearly 10%, sold 6,099 pure electric cars in October 2015, which was almost double the 3,115 sold by second-place Nissan.

The Winner Month After Month

BYD’s first-place finish in October was the sixth consecutive month since May that it has led worldwide EV sales figures. The company has an eleven-percent market share of the total EV market.

BYD’s success is due to the popularity of its Qin sedan and Tang SUV. The company will introduce two new models, the SUVs Song and Yuan, in 2016.

BYD’s rise to the top is dramatic, as it was only ranked seventh in 2014, and it’s sure to continue to grow, as the company has yet to retail its EV cars in the United States.

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential and purchased 225 million shares, and today owns roughly 10% of the company.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2015 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the 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.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions

BYD Number One in Electric Vehicles in August

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

While everyone watches Tesla and Nissan to get the pulse of EV car sales, Chinese car-maker BYD is quietly topping their world-wide sales figures month after month.

BYD Co Ltd, which Berkshire Hathaway holds a minority stake in of nearly 10%, sold 5,307 pure electric cars in August 2015. The sales substantially topped both Tesla and Nissan, which had sales of 2,805 and 3,405 respectively.

The August win meant that the company beat Tesla’s and Nissan’s sales figures for the top EV manufacturer for the fourth month in a row.

For the year to date, BYD is in second place behind Nissan and ahead of Tesla.

Multiple Models

BYD’s Qin and Tang models make the company the only automaker to have two models in the top ten. The Qin ranks number one and the Tang is number eight, and  BYD will be adding two SUV models, the Song and Yuan, to the product lineup as well.

BYD’s marketing strategy has seen it make inroads across the globe, and it currently has buses and taxis running in over 160 cities in 36 countries.

BYD, which is the world-leader in rechargeable batteries, has yet to enter the U.S. car market with either its all-electric or hybrid vehicles. In the U.S., the company has focused on the battery-powered zero emission bus market, winning contracts in San Diego and Long Beach, California, and in Colorado, Oregon and Washington. The company has built a factory to assemble the buses in Long Beach.

However, BYD is inching toward U.S. car sales. In the spring of 2015 it began a pilot program with Uber in Chicago that used BYDs E6 sedan. The car is a cross between a sedan and SUV, and currently gets roughly 186 miles (300 km) of driving range per charge. The 2016 E6 will reportedly get a range increase to 250 miles (400 km).

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2015 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the 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.