First electric bus takes to Hong Kong’s streets

Began test run yesterday.

It’s the only one electric bus but Hong Kong's first battery-powered public bus is part of a drive against the city's persistent and choking pollution.

The new single-decker bus was made by Chinese automaker BYD and is powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries that take three hours to charge and give the vehicle a range of 180 kilometers. BYD also produced Hong Kong’s first electric taxis launched this May.

The government is investing US$23 million in the pilot scheme, helping to subsidize the purchase of 36 electric buses by the end of next year that will be run by private companies. It said the long term goal is towards zero emissions along the roadside.

Kowloon Motor Bus, the largest operator involved in the trial scheme, said it would take time and money if it was going to transform its fleet of 3,800 buses, with each battery-run vehicle costing about US$644,700.

A study by the University of Hong Kong showed pollution-related illnesses killed more than 3,000 residents a year in the financial hub, with environmental groups blaming traffic emissions as the main source of the pollution.