China's BYD, a world leader in electric mobility and green technology, has announced a further sales breakthrough in South America, with the sale of 20 electric buses to Ecuador.

Saucinc, a private bus operator in Guayaquil, is the purchaser, the deal being financed by a public bank, CFN, along with a complete charge system, at a total cost of US$7.7 million.

This will be the first electric fleet in Ecuador and the second in Latin America.

By next March, the 12-meter buses each with a passenger capacity of 80 people will play an important part in promoting modernization of public transport in Ecuador.

The deal was confirmed after repeated trials of the electric bus in Guayaquil City between November 2017 and March 2018, with an average range of 250 km per day. It is estimated that the 20 eBus fleet will avoid the emissions of 12.8 tons of CO2 and consumption of 2.9 million gallons of diesel over a year's operation, achieving savings of US$8 million for the Ecuadorian government, currently subsidizing fuel oil.

"This is a great example of how public and private sectors can work together for the welfare of citizens," said Jorge Burbano, the BYD Country Manager. He revealed that, prior to the contract being signed, the Municipal Transit Agency of Guayaquil had carried out a poll among users that showed 85 percent approved the new technology and a new ticket rate for zero emissions transport. 

Guayaquil is following the example of Santiago, the capital of Chile, which currently has a fleet of 100 electric buses.

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