On the morning of October 26, a neat row of brand-new pure electric buses at the Bajiaowan International Sports Center marked the launch ceremony of the "New Fleet, Green New Area" new energy bus program by the Yantai Public Transport Group's Development Zone Company. As the second batch of the group's 2026 project to purchase 107 new energy vehicles, the first 41 buses officially joined the operational fleet. A total of over 70 new 8.5-meter buses will be gradually deployed on multiple routes including 15, 18, 28, and 209, continuously injecting fresh momentum into green travel for residents.
The new 8.5-meter model focuses on refined urban bus operation, with its core advantage lying in a compact yet efficient interior design. The vehicle adopts an innovative short rear overhang (zero overhang) structure, maximizing passenger space within a limited body length and effectively improving route turnover efficiency during peak hours. More notably, the interior features a continuous full-flat low-floor design, completely eliminating step barriers. This detail makes boarding easier for the elderly and pregnant women, and greatly facilitates wheelchairs and strollers, adding a human touch to public transport services.
Photo source:Yantai Bus Schedule WeChat Official Account
The compact body not only optimizes space but also gives the vehicle high road adaptability. Compared with traditional large buses, these 8.5-meter models have a smaller turning radius, allowing them to navigate freely through back streets and community branch roads that were difficult for large vehicles to cover. This feature enables the bus network to extend further into the city's capillaries, helping to densify the network, reduce walking distances to stops, and deliver public transport services directly to residents' doorsteps, effectively bridging the "last mile" of travel.
In terms of safety protection and intelligent assistance, the new buses have also achieved comprehensive upgrades. Equipped with pneumatic sliding doors and an intelligent anti-pinch system, the vehicles logically ensure that they cannot start unless doors are fully closed, and doors cannot open until the bus is stationary. Meanwhile, multiple intelligent systems—including 360° panoramic driving assistance, BSD pedestrian recognition, accidental acceleration prevention, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning—work together to monitor the driving environment in real time and assist drivers in handling emergencies, building a robust safety defense line.
To provide a better riding experience, the interior hardware has been carefully refined. The buses feature soft leather seats, and stainless steel handrails are fitted with cold-proof rubber sleeves to ensure a comfortable grip in cold winter weather. The windows use nano thermal insulation glass, and the combined heating and cooling air conditioner with fresh air ventilation keeps the temperature comfortable and the air fresh. This allows residents to enjoy a quieter and more pleasant travel environment during short or long commutes.
The batch renewal of new energy buses is a pragmatic measure by Yantai Public Transport Group to accelerate the upgrading of its capacity structure and respond to the public's expectations for better travel. As these flexible new energy buses enter service, the regional bus capacity in Yantai will be effectively strengthened, and the service supply hierarchy will be more complete. In the future, the group will continue to uphold the philosophy that "bus service has no best, only better," continuously optimize network layouts, deepen service content, and translate hardware upgrades into practical service improvements, contributing to the city's green and low-carbon development.