Shenzhen-based passenger car and bus manufacturer BYD has won a tender to provide the island of Schiermonnikoog, part of Friesland province, with 6 electric buses. The province will also purchase the required charging stations, as well as a 15-year service contract with BYD for the maintenance of the bus.
The bus service will be operated by Arriva, starting from early 2013. The BYD K9 bus model has seen quite some international succes, with customers in Finland, US, and Canada among others. The K9 measures in at 12m x 2.5m x 3.3m with a short wheelbase for inner city operation. In city driving conditions its range is reported to be 250 km.
Read more here (in Dutch only).