Tag: Stock Portfolio

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BYD is touting the results of its initial pilot project in its Fully Sustainable Power Solutions initiative, which combines BYD’s battery storage technology with photovoltaic panels.

Results from the first year of BYD’s 60MWh UK project show that BYD’s energy storage system has operated smoothly over the 12 month period. The system responds quickly to the grid’s demand, matching over 99% of aggregate demand with five to six cycles every day. This frequency regulation project is the biggest of its kind in the UK to date.

BYD’s “Fully Sustainable Power Solutions” has the energy generated through PV going directly into energy storage equipment in order to curb instabilities in energy flow and improve distribution.

The idea of combining PV generation with energy storage is not new, but what grants BYD an edge is that not only is the company the world’s largest Iron-Phosphate battery manufacturer, it is also one of the few companies to make both photovoltaic and energy storage products.

TESLA recently acquired Solar City in order to combine its battery storage capability with Solar City’s new photovoltaic roof shingles.

Tom Zhao, Managing Director of BYD Solar Division said the success of the project is proof that the revolutionary business model works. “We want to pave the way for more projects to follow suit so that the new energy market becomes bigger and better,” he said. “There is a potential demand of 100MWh in a similar project in the UK alone, and over 200MWh worldwide.”

BYD also announced its ambition to integrate its energy storage systems with wind power this year, before eventually merging the system with all types of renewable energy generation. BYD notes that this will give consumers and businesses a more stable supply of clean energy and increase the functionality of renewable power generation stations.

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 is now worth roughly $1.8 billion.

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

© 2017 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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Chinese battery and vehicle maker BYD, the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, has delivered North America’s first 60-foot articulated battery-electric transit bus to the Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) in Los Angeles County, California.

The bus, part of AVTA’s plan to fully electrify its fleet by 2018, was also built with local labor in BYD’s factory in Lancaster, just miles from the AVTA office. It is the first delivery from AVTA’s order of thirteen 60’ BYD buses.

“The Antelope Valley Transit Authority is leading the North American transit market with its electrification commitment, and so it’s only fitting that they should have the first bus of its kind in North America,” said Macy Neshati, Senior Vice President of BYD Heavy Industries. “This bus runs longer and holds more passengers than any other commercially available battery-electric bus, and I know it will serve the people of the Antelope Valley well.”

Len Engel, Executive Director of the Antelope Valley Transit Authority, added, “We’ve been proud to be at the forefront of the smart business of electrification, protecting our air, saving money, and creating local jobs here in the Antelope Valley. Having the first 60-foot articulated electric transit bus on the continent is a feather in the cap of the people of Lancaster, Palmdale, and the other communities we serve.”

The 60-foot BYD bus seats up to 60 people and provides a range of 200 miles on a single charge with full charging completed in two to three hours. It will join the rest of the AVTA fleet in serving the half million residents of northern Los Angeles County.

Nearly 600 Californians are employed at the BYD factory in Lancaster. Workers there recently completed a card-check vote, an important step towards unionization.

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 is now worth roughly $1.8 billion.

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

© 2017 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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After the delivery of the largest e-taxi fleet in Ecuador last month, Chinese new energy technology company BYD has delivered twenty more of its pure electric e6 taxi to Uruguay’s capital city, Montevideo.

The BYD pure electric taxi fleet was launched in 2015, as the country’s pioneering initiative towards electrified public transportation.

Key to the program is that the e6’s operational cost is 6-8 times lower than that of a traditional gasoline taxi.

The Uruguayan government is supporting the move to electrified transportation. The government offers unprecedented subsidies and advantages to potential buyers: 60,000 USD subsidy for a pure electric taxi license, which is 50% less as compared to a conventional taxi; owners will also be exempted of the 23% import tax on the vehicles; as well as a 5,000 USD subsidy for installing the charger, totaling up to 100,000 USD in incentives.

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 is now worth roughly $1.8 billion.

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

© 2017 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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Chinese battery and vehicle maker BYD has debuted its first three pure electric buses in St. Albert, Canada.

The buses are the first electric buses BYD has sold in Canada, and the three BYD K9 buses are the first of seven electric buses for the city.

The order represents a conversion of a full 10% of the city’s bus fleet to electric, which will be fulfilled by the end of the year and shows its commitment to migrating its fleet to next-generation fuels.

Of particular note is the performance of the buses in cold weather. The buses are hardy enough to perform in extreme cold weather that can drop down to -35°C in the winter.

The city of Edmonton has also tested BYD’s buses and found that two of BYD’s K9 electric buses tested against two brand new diesel buses were more reliable in the extreme cold temperatures than the diesel buses.

The buses cost $970,000 Canadian dollars each, and are part of the province’s Green Transit Incentives Program, which supports new and existing public transport infrastructure technology. The project’s ultimate aim is to reduce the number of vehicles on the province’s roads and lower greenhouse gases.

BYD Canada Vice President Ted Dowling said the introduction of the 10.6 meter long battery powered buses were exciting. “Many more Canadian cities and provinces will be under pressure to buy electric buses soon because they cannot be led by the oil province.” Alberta has the world’s third largest oil reserves.

Provincial and federal politicians in Canada have actively promoted green transport solutions in the country as part of the country’s commitment to mitigating climate change.

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 is now worth roughly $1.8 billion.

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

© 2017 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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Noisy, smelly diesel-powered refuse trucks are about to be replaced by a zero- emission pure electric refuse truck by Chinese battery and vehicle maker BYD that is now available for purchase and deployment in North America.

BYD, which has become the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, debuted its class 8 battery-electric refuse truck at the 2017 ACT Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center.

BYD’s truck is the first heavy-duty refuse truck designed and built by an original equipment manufacturer and is 100 percent battery electric. Manufactured in Lancaster, California, the BYD refuse truck is compliant with FMVSS and CMVSS regulations

“BYD continues to lead the heavy-duty electric vehicle market with our advanced battery technology, and this new refuse truck is just the latest example of our vehicle solutions that can save fleet customers tens of thousands of dollars annually,” said Stella Li, President of BYD Motors. “BYD’s medium- and heavy-duty battery electric vehicles have a lower total cost of ownership and can be a one-for-one replacement with fossil fueled vehicles in fleet operations.”

BYD’s 10-ton payload refuse truck provides 76 miles of range with minimal battery degradation. The truck is a cab and chassis platform, which includes the batteries, high voltage control system, all-electric propulsion system, and electric power take off for powering the hydraulic system to operate the refuse truck bodies. This platform is designed to integrate with all of the major refuse truck body builders in North America, and can be configured as a side loader, automated side loader, front loader, rear loader, or roll off.

As the refuse truck was built by BYD in its entirety, as opposed to as a retrofit of a CNG or diesel truck, the entire system was designed with electric propulsion in mind. For operators, that translates to optimized efficiency, maintenance, and usability throughout its life.

BYD says that fleet managers can expect more than $13,000 of operational cost savings annually based on service routes of 60 miles per day/five days a week.

The savings are due to high-efficiency electric motors and motor controls, as well as lower maintenance on propulsion systems, fewer fluids to change, less brake wear due to cutting-edge regenerative braking technology, and fewer moving parts.

The BYD battery-electric refuse truck can charge at 40 kW, 80 kW, 100 kW, or 200 kW rates, requiring between one and five hours to charge depending on the power interface used. BYD’s refuse truck battery technology allows for a projected 80 percent capacity after 5,000 cycles or 14 years, if charged every day.

BYD designs their vehicles to fit in seamlessly to any fleet with an advanced vehicle-to-grid system allowing the vehicle to deliver power back to the grid, to a load, or to another vehicle without any disruptions.

BYD employs more than 600 skilled workers at its manufacturing facility in Lancaster.

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 is now worth roughly $1.77 billion.

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

© 2017 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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Chinese battery and vehicle maker BYD has delivered the longest pure electric bus in North America. The 60-foot articulated battery-electric transit bus will go in service for the Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) in Los Angeles County, California.

The bus, part of AVTA’s award-winning campaign to fully electrify its fleet by 2018, was also built with local labor in BYD’s factory in Lancaster, just miles from the AVTA office. It is the first delivery from AVTA’s order of thirteen 60-foot BYD buses.

“The Antelope Valley Transit Authority is leading the North American transit market with its electrification commitment, and so it’s only fitting that they should have the first bus of its kind in North America,” said Macy Neshati, Senior Vice President of BYD Heavy Industries. “This bus runs longer and holds more passengers than any other commercially available battery-electric bus, and I know it will serve the people of the Antelope Valley well.”

Len Engel, Executive Director of the Antelope Valley Transit Authority, added, “We’ve been proud to be at the forefront of the smart business of electrification, protecting our air, saving money, and creating local jobs here in the Antelope Valley. Having the first 60-foot articulated electric transit bus on the continent is a feather in the cap of the people of Lancaster, Palmdale, and the other communities we serve.”

The 60-foot BYD bus seats up to 60 people and provides a range of 200 miles on a single charge with full charging completed in two to three hours. It will join the rest of the AVTA fleet in serving the half million residents of northern Los Angeles County.

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 is now worth roughly $1.8 billion.

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

© 2017 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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Thirty BYD pure electric e5 taxis are now in service in Loja, Ecuador. The project was initiated by the local community and backed by the Ecuadorian government with a tax free incentive.

“The strong support from the government and the development bank Corporación Financiera Nacional shows united effort to create a sustainable living environment,” said Jorge Burbano, Business Manager of BYD E-Motors Ecuador. “We are impressed by their conviction and perseverance to make EcoTaxis a reality.”

Introducing electric taxis into Loja’s public transport system is just one of many steps Ecuador is taking to mitigate climate change. It – along with every Latin American country – is one of the signatories to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. At 43.6 percent renewable energy also plays a growing role in Ecuador’s energy mix.

The Mayor of Loja, Bolivar Castillo, expressed his gratitude to the locals who first approached City Hall with a business case for the EcoTaxi. “This demonstrates that the people of Loja are not afraid to try new things. Cities like ours will pave the way for others to follow.”

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 is now worth roughly $1.77 billion.

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

© 2017 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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BYD Company is continuing to build out its global electric bus manufacturing capability. The Chinese battery and vehicle maker has announced it will invest €10 million in a new assembly plant in the town of Allonne, near Beauvais, in Hauts-de-France.

The project will create roughly 100 jobs in its initial phase. The production facility will occupy 32,000 sq m of a parcel totaling nearly 80,000 sq m, and will assemble up to 200 vehicles a year—single-deck buses and coaches—in its first phase.

Other vehicles may be added as BYD expands its product line.

Production is scheduled to get underway in the first half of 2018. In addition to bus assembly, BYD plans an after-sales unit for maintenance and repairs, as well as a logistics center for spare parts. In the longer term, a test center for batteries could be added.

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 is now worth roughly $1.77 billion.

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

© 2017 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.