A fleet of 34 BYD electric buses has entered regular service on Verona’s urban network under a partnership with Azienda Trasporti Verona (ATV).

According to a press note by BYD Italy, the deployment includes the BYD eBUS B12 and K9UD models.

BYD electric buses operate in Verona

The introduction of the BYD eBUS B12 marks its first application in Italy and features a construction concept based on structural battery integration. The Blade Battery based on LFP chemistry is incorporated directly into the chassis and functions as part of the load-bearing structure, replacing structural elements in the installation areas and contributing to torsional rigidity. The adoption of Blade batteries was presented in 2024, but it was clear since 2023 that new BYD 12-meter e-bus were to be equipped with extra slim batteries integrated in chassis.

byd verona buses

Henry Zhang, Managing Director of the Commercial Vehicle Business Center at BYD Europe, stated in an interview with Sustainable Bus that “Currently, BYD has already launched several new models built on this platform, including the B12.b LF, B12.b LE, B12.b HF, B13.b, and the B18.b (available in both long and short wheelbase versions). In the near future, 10m and 15m models will also be introduced, and all upcoming BYD eBuses for the European market will gradually migrate to this new generation platform“.

This configuration lowers the center of gravity and optimizes mass distribution. The B12 vehicles operating in Verona have a gross vehicle weight of 19.5 tonnes and a maximum rear axle load of 12 tonnes. They are equipped with a 416 kWh battery system, with a declared range of up to 530 kilometers. Charging is carried out via DC Combo2 at up to 170 kW, supported by dual charging ports. The interior layout provides 29 seats plus the driver, with a total passenger capacity of 88.

The BYD eBUS K9UD complements the Verona fleet with a configuration designed for urban service. The model offers 29 seats and a total capacity of up to 82 passengers. Charging is supported through DC Combo2 at 100 kW per charging port.

Highlights

Depot-first autonomy for European smartbuses

For more than a decade, autonomous buses have been “almost ready.” Demonstrations with safety drivers began around 2015, and ten years later, this is still largely what we see. The reason is not a lack of ambition – it is physics, safety, and economics. Autonomous buses on city streets a...

Related articles