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The trial and use of electric vehicles (EVs) in Hong Kong will soon be extended to the public transport sector, including buses, coaches and taxis.
At its meeting today (August 11), the Steering Committee on the Promotion of Electric Vehicles chaired by the Financial Secretary received briefings by BYD Company Limited and Great Dragon International Corporation Limited on their brands of EVs for public transportation, including electric coaches, buses and taxis. These commercial EVs will be introduced to Hong Kong for trial and sale starting from the second half of 2011.
"The introduction of EVs in the public transport sector would make our environment cleaner and greener," said the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, after the Steering Committee meeting. "The transport sector is the second largest source of air pollution and carbon emissions in Hong Kong. As EVs have zero emissions, they are expected to improve roadside air quality in particular, and support the development of a low-carbon, green economy."
Public transport operators have responded positively to the Government's appeal for wider adoption of EVs. In early 2011, a local franchised bus company completed an eight-month trial for a supercapacitor bus in Hong Kong, and the company is planning to extend the trial to battery-electric buses.
There has also been a satisfactory response from the trade for the Pilot Green Transport Fund launched by the Government in March 2011. By the end of July, 17 applications had been received for trials of electric buses and goods vehicles. These proposed trials can help establish the operability of commercial EVs in Hong Kong and pave the way for their wider adoption in the public and commercial transport sectors.
At today's meeting, the Steering Committee also endorsed the Government's proposal to set up by mid-2012 around 500 standard charging points for EVs at government car parks for public use.
Ends/Thursday, August 11, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:38
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