First Sightings
In the months before the start of the trial, SG4001J was housed at the Smart Innovation Centre along Ubi Avenue 4, an authorized dealer for BYD Auto. The bus occupied a sheltered lot with a specialised charging station.
The bus also bore a green-themed livery which promoted its environmentally-friendly aspects. In its initial version, there were additional decals over the windows, which were removed shortly before the bus was registered.
On Sunday, 30 October 2016, Go-Ahead confirmed that the BYD K9 will enter service in early November, starting with Service 17 before bring trialed on other routes.
The livery was changed yet again shortly before trial commencement to comply with the Commercial Advertising on Bus Contracting Model Buses regulation, which requires the front 1/3 of the bus to be completely free of advertising. This was done by JE Graphics Pte Ltd again.
Debut (Service 17)
On 7 November 2016, SG4001J made its revenue service debut on Bus Service 17, plying between Pasir Ris Bus Interchange and Bedok Bus Interchange.
The interior was also fitted with revenue collection equipment, which is the New Onboard Bus Equipment (NOBE) consisting of farecard readers and a driver’s console, as well as a coinbox, and the Trapeze Common Fleet Management System. The bus is wheelchair-accessible for the purposes of this trial, with a passenger-in-wheelchair spotted onboard the bus in the afternoon of 7 November 2016.
Service 119
On Monday, 20 February 2017, SG4001J made its debut on Go-Ahead Bus Service 119, plying from Punggol Temp Int and looping at Hougang Street 21. It was 3.5 months into its 6 month trial with Go-Ahead Singapore when it made its debut on Service 119.
Service 15
On Monday, 24 April 2017, SG4001J made its debut on Go-Ahead Bus Service 15, plying from Pasir Ris Int and looping at Marine Parade. It was more than 5 months into its supposed 6 month trial with Go-Ahead Singapore when it made its debut on Service 15.
End of Trial
On Wednesday, 31 May 2017, Go-Ahead Singapore announced that the trial for the BYD K9 Electric Bus (SG4001J) was on its last day.
Trivia:
- The bus bears a Mobitec Electronic Display Signage (EDS) of a orange LED matrix design, mounted on the front, kerbside and rear of the bus
- One of the EDS scrolls is misspelt: “Bedik North Ave 4” instead of Bedok North Ave 4
- The scheduled revenue trip mileage for the bus is 125km, around half the advertised distance of the BYD K9, likely to factor for the tropical climate of Singapore
- The Common Fleet Management System Driver Display Unit is not logged on to exclude the bus from being part of the BSRF results for Service 17, as specified in the trial conditions.
- The bus originally could not be tracked on bus arrival apps. It appears as a non-wheelchair-accessible bus when it was redeployed to Service 119.
Expecting update on the bus riding timings too.
Anyone has any idea what’s the bus operation timing for these 2 buses?
LTA should have kept this bus. And deploy it as perm with Go Ahead Service 84.