BYD self-driving technology is firstly used in rail transit

BYD is researching self-driving technology, which will be firstly used in rail transportation instead of alternative energy vehicles.

Today, BYD held an inauguration ceremony for its first straddle-type monorail “Cloud Rail” in the headquarter located in Pingshan, Shenzhen, officially entering into the rail transit industry after IT, auto, and alternative energy vehicles. Wang Chuanfu, Board Chairman and President of BYD, said on October 13th that, BYD has started the research on rail transit five years ago. Now the technology is mature, and more than 20 cities show interests in the new city transportation and discuss with BYD about the solutions. The first order will be received by Shantou, covering a length of 250 KM.

Facing ever serious problems such as energy safety, climate change and urban air pollution, BYD plans to find solutions from auto area and the outside. To explore urban transportation market and erase traffic jam and air pollution, BYD enters into rail transit industry, trying to help cities on wheel transform into cities on rail.

Reporters learn that the self-driving technology will be used in “Cloud Rail”, to decrease operation cost. BYD’s transportation sets A and C two lines. A lines will mainly be used in unban transportation and airports, railway stations, subway and other special routes, the construction cost of which is RMB 150m to 250m per kilometer. C lines will go deep into communities and spread out around residences, malls and hospitals, the construction cost of which will be or less than RMB 100m per kilometers. In general, BYD “Cloud Rail” has very outstanding strengths, with the cost only 1/5 of subways and construction period only 1/3 of subways.

Currently, the project has received supports from financial institutions. Just two days ago, BYD signed a strategically cooperative agreement with National Development Bank in Shenzhen, valuing RMB 60b.