San Diego-based ride-sharing service Opoli has agreed to buy 50 e6 EVs from China’s BYD Motors. The e6 electric crossover will join Opoli’s natural gas airport shuttles later this summer.

Opoli, which launched its service in the San Diego area just a few weeks ago, is the first ride-share service permitted at the San Diego International Airport. It uses a name-your-price model, and allows rides to be booked on demand via a smartphone app.

The BYD e6 features a 75 kW motor and a 61.4 kWh BYD-developed lithium iron-phosphate battery, and has an EPA-estimated range of range of 127 miles. BYD says that more than 800 are in operation as taxis worldwide, and have logged over 45 million miles.

“At Opoli we continue to seek out and provide an affordable solution to the transportation problems that plague metropolitan areas,” said Opoli founder and CEO Rattan Joea. “Teaming up with BYD provides riders not only cost-effective solutions, but a green alternative in San Diego.”

“Our company was built on innovation, and unlike most auto manufacturers we are excited for the future of the shared-use economy and pioneers such as Opoli,” said BYD Motors President Stella Li.

Source: Green Car Congress
Image: nzcarfreak (CC BY 2.0)