| BYD BC12A04 | |
 BYD B12 deployed at SITCE 2024 |
|
| Manufacturer | BYD Auto Industry |
| Bodywork | Zhuhai Guangtong |
| Years in operation | 2024– |
| Operators | SBS Transit |
| Technical Data | |
| Length | 12 m |
| Motor | BYD AC Synchronous Motor |
| Battery | BYD Blade LFP (433.45 kWh) |
| Accessibility | Low Floor |
| Emission Standard | Zero tailpipe emissions |
The BYD B12 is an electric single-deck city bus offered by Chinese bus manufacturer BYD Auto Industry (比亞迪). As of 2023, it is BYD’s flagship electric city bus, superseding the highly successful BYD K9.
BYD is supplying 300 units of BYD B12 buses (registered as BYD BC12A04 for this sub-type) to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) under Contract PT601A. This comprised an initial tender award for 240 units in November 2023, and an LTA-exercised option for 60 more units announced in October 2024.
Bus Model background
BYD launched its ‘B-series’ electric bus range on 29 July 2020, comprising the single-deck BYD B10 and BYD B12 of 10 and 12-metre lengths, and the BYD B12D 12-metre double-deck bus.
The BYD B12 is powered by twin wheel-hub hairpin motors that are directly connected to the driven wheels, maximizing available cabin space by eliminating the need for a transmission and driveshaft. A ‘6-in-1 electronic controller’ with SiC elements simplifies the vehicle’s electronics, by combining 2 electric motor controls, a steering control unit, an air compressor controller, a DC-DC converter and a power distributor unit into a single module.
BYD also offers the bus with Blade batteries, a proprietary lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery design optimised for energy density and safety. These batteries are water-cooled to maintain their optimal working range, and paired with a battery management system for performance monitoring. These batteries can also be integrated into the chassis, but this was not opted for in LTA’s BYD BC12A04 order.
LTA Procurement (2023)
On 25 November 2023, BYD (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. was awarded an LTA contract to supply 240 single-deck electric buses for S$108.1 million. This formed part of a larger order for 360 electric buses under Contract PT601, which was also awarded to Cycle & Carriage (partnered with Zhongtong Bus). BYD also confirmed in a Facebook post that it would supply BYD B12 buses for the LTA tender.
On 23 October 2024, LTA announced that it had exercised an option to purchase 60 additional buses from BYD, for a total of 300 buses.
Electric bus chargers were also installed at Sengkang West, East Coast and Gali Batu Bus Depots to support the deployment of these buses.
Buses were first sighted in Singapore sometime in late August 2024. Some buses were delivered without seats and handrails; these were only fitted after delivery to Singapore. Delivery documents identify the bus model as GTK6127BEVB1.
These buses would be registered under the model name BYD BC12A04. This variant of the BYD B12 includes the letter ‘C’ possibly indicating ‘chassis’, as these buses were supplied by BYD as bare chassis, with bodywork construction performed by Zhuhai Guangtong.
Registration & Rollout
The registration number range of SG3101K–SG3400Y was reserved for the BYD BC12A04 buses. Registration commenced on 14 October 2024 with the first 10 units (SG3102H–SG3111G) leased to SBS Transit.
In a press release on 23 October 2024, LTA mentioned that the first 10 electric buses procured under PT601 would commence passenger service from December 2024, on Bus Services 86, 107, and 159, utilizing the charging infrastructure at Sengkang West Bus Depot.
In November 2024, before entering revenue service, SBS Transit provided several BYD BC12A04 buses for the LTA-UITP Singapore International Transport Congress & Exhibition (SITCE) as shuttle services for event delegates and visitors.
Preliminary Specifications
| BYD BC12A04 – Specifications |
|
| Vehicle Model | BYD BC12A04 (GTK6127BEVB1) |
| Dimensions |
Length × Width × Height: 11995 mm × 2550 mm × 3250 mm |
| Drivetrain | BYD EQ13B drive axle with 2× in-wheel PMSM motors Maximum power/torque of 300 kW (150 kW × 2) / 1100 Nm (550 Nm × 2) ) Regenerative braking capabilities + Front and rear disc brakes |
| Battery | BYD Blade battery (Capacity 433.45 kWh) Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) chemistry; liquid-cooled with BTMS |
| Bodywork |
Zhuhai Guangtong Vehicle Manufacture Co., Ltd. Assembled in Zhuhai, China |
| EDS | Luminator ULTIMA Electronic Display Sign (EDS) Orange LED Matrix design. Luminator Basic driver controller. |
| PIDS | Luminator SMART Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) Interior-facing LCD screen and exterior-facing LCD screen + LED Text Display |
| Air-con | Spheros REVO-E Global |
| Driver Assistance | TNT Surveillance T-Guard – Forward collision warning system & lane departure warning (T-FA Front Alert Camera) – Side collision warning system (T-SA Side Alert Cameras) – Anti-Fatigue system (T-DA Driver Alert Camera) – Surround view camera system (T-A.I. 360°) |
| Passenger Capacity | 28 Seated + 55 Standing = 83 Passengers 2 Wheelchair Bays |
| Other Specifications | • USB charging ports • Automatic wheelchair ramp • TNTS Camera mirror system • Rear emergency exit hatch |
Buses procured under Contract PT601 (i.e. BYD BC12A04 and Zhongtong N12) come fitted with a Camera Mirror System in place of usual wing mirrors. Vertical display screens located in the driver’s cab show real-time footage from high-definition cameras mounted on the exterior of the bus—where traditional wing mirrors are mounted.
The Camera Mirror System provides Bus Captains with a wider and clearer field of view, minimises blind spots and improves visibility in low light and adverse weather conditions. Mounting points on the bus exterior allow wing mirrors to be installed if the camera system fails.
In addition, 360° surround-view camera systems are also installed, where video feeds from cameras on all sides of the bus are stitched together to provide a 360° birds-eye view; helpful when manoeuvring buses in tight spaces.
Early Prototype
The BYD BC12A04 first appeared in a promotional video published by Zhuhai Guangtong Vehicle Manufacture Co., Ltd., a contract manufacturer of buses based in Zhuhai, China. The video, which surfaced in early 2024, was uploaded to an Alibaba listing by Zhuhai Guangtong advertising its electric buses.
The bus in the video appears to be an early production prototype. The automatic wheelchair ramp, camera mirror system, and rear emergency exit hatch, which feature on buses delivered to Singapore, are not found on this bus.
Other public buses in Singapore built by Guangtong Manufacture are the ADL Enviro500 and the ADL Enviro500 (3-door).
Video screengrabs of the interior reveal seats upholstered in blue and red, with red seats intended as priority seats. Two wheelchair bays are provided, with each wheelchair backrest fitted with a pivoting handlebar and a foldable seat.
Two wheelchair bays are provided, both located opposite the exit door. Each bay accommodates one passenger-in-wheelchair (PIW), and the wheelchair backrest contains both a foldable seat and a pivoting handlebar.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and an anti-fatigue system are mounted on the dashboard.
The rear section of the bus is laid out similarly to other BYD B12 buses in Singapore, including the floor step provided for passengers accessing the last row of seats (as seen from the CCTV monitor), despite being positioned at the same height as the facing seats in front.
This promotional video was removed from Alibaba sometime around September 2024.
Weibo Post (May 2024)
In May 2024, more photos of the BYD BC12A04 were posted to Weibo by MT6735EVG.
Several modifications can be identified on the exterior of the bus when compared to the video released in early 2024, such as:
- BYD external badges, in place of Guangtong badges
- Camera side mirror systems installed; physical mirrors removed
- Escape hatch incorporated into rear window of bud
- Exterior wheelchair push buttons relocated to a lower position; with tape placed over the original position
Model name
The ‘BYD B12’ model designation refers to BYD’s B-series of electric buses built by BYD as integral buses, with a distinctive ‘bulbous roof’ bodywork developed by BYD’s in-house design team, led by Wolfgang Egger. However, the 300 (240 + 60 option) buses procured by the Land Transport Authority are not integral buses; they are instead built by Zhuhai Guangtong on BYD-supplied chassis.
Upon registration in October 2024, the bus model was confirmed as BYD BC12A04. Delivery documents identify the alternate model name as GTK6127BEVB1.
Other BYD B12 buses in Singapore
ComfortDelGro Bus purchased ten BYD B12A03 buses as campus shuttle buses for NUS and NTU, which commenced service in November 2022.
Another BYD B12A03 demonstrator bus (registered SG4013A) was offered to LTA for revenue service trials, commencing service in January 2024.
Gallery (SITCE Shuttle, November 2024)
Gallery (Pre-Delivery)
(Photos from LinkedIn by Mr Gregory Sloan, Executive Director at Challenger Bus And Coach. Guangtong Manufacture also builds buses for Challenger).
References:
- Guangtong New 12m Electric 35 Seats Passenger City Bus 40 Seater Automatic Low Floor Public Bus Customized – Buy City Bus electric City Bus new Bus Product on Alibaba.com
- BYD has embarked on a new journey after ten years of transformation and released a new generation of pure electric commercial vehicle series (baidu.com)
- Gregory Sloan – LinkedIn Post
- Newly designed model for 2024 -… – Guangtong Vehicle Manufacture | Facebook
- Weibo Post – MT6735EVG
- New Electric Bus Features for Safer and Inclusive Journeys – Land Transport Authority
Back to Bus Models
Buses park at Sengkang West depot.
The first 10 buses, SG3102H – SG3111G, were leased to SBS Transit. I hope that these 10 buses were deployed to Seletar Bus Depot such as Bus Services 135, 162, 261, 265, and 268.
Hopefully the new BC12A04s will meet the SG4013A and then the two will be pictured together on 1`62!
Not at the moment as the 10 buses park at Sengkang West Depot together with few Citaros and KUBs from Hougang Depot.
I think they will meet SG4013A on 162 if the new bus was deployed on 86 as they will go to Ang Mo Kio.
The old design was better we are so cooked
The 240 BYD buses out of the total of 360 new 3-Door Electric SD Bus will probably entering service by the end of the year or early next year which depends on registration date.
Guangtong G12 Demonstrator (SG4008R)
No
I thought it was.