ATM Messina (Italy) takes over a fleet of 16 short BYD zero emission buses

15 per cent of Messina public transport buses are now electric. BYD delivered a few days ago as many as 16 zero emission buses to ATM Messina, the operator of the Sicilian city (Italy).

The new buses are model K7, thus 8.7 meter long. BYD has now secured over 50% of the total electric bus market in Italy, BYD points out. In 2018, 60 zero emission buses were delivered in Italy: 30 Solaris and 30 BYD.

The first zero emission bus fleet in South Italy

ATM’s new BYD fleet signals the first full-size zero emission bus fleet for the island of Sicily and for the whole South Italy. The Local Authority operator in Messina also boasts the highest percentage of electric buses (15% of total) within any public transport fleet throughout Italy. The acquisition of the new 53-passenger capacity BYD eBus fleet comes via state funding, directly through the municipality of Messina. The delivery follows an order for 13 units signed one year ago. An order that has been increased up to 16 units.

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Receiving the new BYD fleet there were the Mayor Cateno De Luca, Councilor for Mobility, alongside ATM representatives including President Giuseppe Campagna and Director Vincenzo Poidomani. BYD was represented by Europe Sales Manager, Patrick Zhou.

This hand-over, BYD points out, is the latest in a consistent number of recent sales (Madrid, Valencia, Badajoz and Badalona in Spain, Coimbra in Portugal). Also deliveries are ongoing across Scandinavia.

Zero emission bus market, a look to Europe

Taking a look to European 2018 market shares on electric buses, BYD’s leap forward has been particularly huge. The Chinese manufacturer produces both in-house electric buses and chassis with bodywork by Alexander Dennis for UK market. Adding the sales of BYD electric buses (77) and those jointly realized by BYD – ADL (84) we get no less than 161 electric buses registered in 2018. If the two products were considered together, BYD would be the leader of European electric bus market. In Europe, the number of electric buses registered increased by 48 per cent between 2017 and 2018. The 562 electric buses registered in 2018 represent about 5 percent of the Class I market in the considered area.

A green turning point for Messina

Going back to the Italian delivery, “The use of electric buses,” said Transport Councilor and Deputy Mayor, Salvatore Mondello, “reduces pollution and promotes sustainable mobility. We are proud that Messina becomes one of the leading cities from this point-of-view. We want to continue to focus on sustainable and technologically advanced transport.”

ATM’s President, Giuseppe Campagna, agrees, saying, “It was necessary to reach this ‘green’ turning point, that is enclosed in the general context in the evolution of mobility.”

Isbrand Ho, Managing Director at BYD Europe, added, “This is certainly an important day for BYD, not least the geographical significance of Messina and that BYD eBuses are now seen in service right across Europe – north, south, east and west. We are seeing an increasing acceptance of pure electric mobility, not only from public transport companies but, perhaps more importantly, from the general public itself – it is the people that drive change. I’m very pleased that BYD has both the products and the charging-infrastructure in place to meet customer demand and we will continue with our commitment to bring 100% emissions-free eBus transport to European towns and cities.”