Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has introduced a new all-electric commuter coach bus. The 45-foot (13.7-meter) long bus has a range of up to 188 miles (303 km) on a single charge.

The bus, which can seat up to 53 passengers, is equipped with BYD’s “Iron-Phosphate” batteries, which the company claims are more environmentally friendly and have a longer lifespan than traditional lead-acid batteries.

BYD says the bus can be recharged to 80 percent capacity in just one hour using a “fast charger”, or fully charged in five hours using a standard charger.

The bus made its public debut at the 2015 APTA Expo in Dallas, Texas. BYD is currently the only manufacturer offering all-electric buses in the United States.

Benefits of Electric Buses

  • Reduced emissions – Electric buses produce zero emissions, which can significantly improve air quality in urban areas.
  • Lower operating costs – Electric buses are cheaper to operate than diesel buses, since they require no fuel and have lower maintenance costs.
  • Quieter operation – Electric buses are much quieter than diesel buses, which can make for a more pleasant ride for passengers.