Twenty two additional BYD electric taxis will roll in Rotterdam.

Rotterdam Taxi Company (RTC) indicated it is planning to add another 22 BYD e6 electric taxis to its fleet.

RTC became in 2013 the first operator in Europe to put into service BYD’s electric taxi, the BYD e6.

RTC CEO Sjaak de Winter signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to acquire the new units for its fleet with BYD’s Chairman Wang Chuanfu at a ceremony at BYD Europe’s HQ, which happens to also be located in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

“The experience with our first three BYD e6 taxis has been very positive – they are liked by our passengers and drivers and they have proved very economical to operate,” said De Winter. “We look forward to expanding our fleet of these environmentally friendly and cost effective vehicles”.

SEE ALSO: Chinese Automaker BYD Planning US Launch Next Year

Fleets of BYD e6 taxis are also in use in cities such as London, where a fleet of 32 e6s is expected to increase to 200 in the early months of next year, Brussels and Barcelona. BYD added further fleet sales are expected soon.

“We are delighted that major European cities such as Rotterdam are recognising the role that BYD’s battery technology can play in improving air quality in urban environments,” said Mr Wang Chuanfu. “Our e6 taxis – and our ebus range of pure electric city buses – rely on a proven and reliable battery technology, which delivers excellent range and real operating cost advantages to the operators. It’s great to be able to co-operate further with our friends at RTC”.

The next step for BYD and RTC experts is to conclude finance and leasing arrangements with a view to allowing the new fleet to be in use in Rotterdam during 2015.