BYD has been manufacturing electric buses in Lancaster, California, for the past nine years, but they are contending with a record of poor performance. Actual driving ranges are dozens of miles short of what is claimed. The first five buses sold to L.A. Metro were pulled off the street in less than five months. Agency staff found they were unreliable for 100 mile distances.
When BYD delivered its first five buses to L.A. Metro in 2015, they had immediate problems. They would stall on hills. BYD had promised a range of 155 miles per charge, but in reality the range averaged only 59 miles. In most months, the buses required road calls after less than 400 miles. L.A. Metro deemed them unsuitable after four months. BYD offered to take them back. BYD accused L.A. Metro drivers of taking their BYD buses on hills that were too steep, and they made unnecessary road calls. L.A. Metro also cited delays for parts.
Problems with doors on BYD buses have been reported in Anaheim and Denver. Cracks in frames appeared during federal endurance testing last year.
