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Following is a question by the Hon Sin Chung-kai and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (May 22):
Question:
I have learnt that as the related technology has become increasingly mature in recent years, quite a number of neighbouring countries and regions have introduced liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles (e.g. LNG buses) to their public transport systems one after another. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it has studied the energy efficiency of LNG vehicles and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles in different countries and regions at present, and whether it has compared these two types of vehicles in terms of their levels of emissions, fuel efficiencies and prices, etc.; if it has, of the details of the study and results of the comparison; if not, the reasons for that; and
(b) given that the Introducing Natural Gas/Liquefied Petroleum Gas Buses and Heavy Duty Vehicles in Hong Kong - Feasibility Study, which was conducted by the Government in 2007, had concluded that "the introduction of natural gas/LPG buses and heavy duty vehicles is not practical" because the difficulties associated with developing the infrastructure for an entirely new fuel outweighed the very small additional environmental benefits in reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality to be brought about by the introduction of such vehicles, whether the Government will, in the light of the technological developments in recent years, consider afresh introducing LNG vehicles (e.g. LNG taxis, public light buses and single-decked buses, etc.) to the public transport system in Hong Kong; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
(a) and (b) The Government completed a consultancy study on the feasibility of introducing natural gas/liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) heavy duty vehicles in Hong Kong in February 2009. The scope of the study includes the supply of natural gas/LPG in Hong Kong and elsewhere, emission performance of these vehicles, environmental benefits and safety risks. The Executive Summary of the consultancy study is uploaded on the Environmental Protection Department's webpage: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/studyrpts/files/executive_summary_gas_bus_hdv_study.pdf .
The study conducted at that time concluded that natural gas/LPG buses and heavy duty vehicles were not feasible in Hong Kong and the environmental benefits would reduce as the Government progressively tightens the emission standards of diesel vehicles. The consultant's major justifications include:
1. Following the continuous upgrading of the emission standards for new diesel models in major vehicle production countries, the emission gap between new diesel vehicles and gas vehicles is narrowing.
2. The LPG used in Hong Kong is only suitable as fuel for light-duty vehicles. If LPG heavy duty vehicles (including buses, medium and heavy good vehicles) are to be introduced, we will have to provide another grade of LPG different from the current one and also separate filling facilities for this fuel.
3. Natural gas/LPG storage facilities must be kept at an acceptable separation distance from surrounding residential areas or other land users in order to reduce the risk. Since Hong Kong has a high density urban development, it is difficult to further identify sufficient suitable sites for setting up the required gaseous fuel infrastructure, including gaseous fuel storage depots and sufficient number of natural gas/LPG filling stations for these new gas vehicles.
Since the completion of the consultancy study, the natural gas/LPG safety standard requirements have not been changed. We consider that the conclusions of study are still valid.
Since June 2012, newly registered vehicles have to comply with Euro V vehicle emission standards. On the other hand, the Environment Bureau is now consulting the transport trades on the Chief Executive's proposal in this year's Policy Address on the phasing out of pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles. Euro V heavy duty vehicles, whether fuelled by diesel, LPG or natural gas, are subject to the same emission limits. Hence, under the current requirement whereby newly registered vehicles shall meet the limits of Euro V emission standard, the environmental benefits of LPG/natural gas vehicles, as compared with new diesel vehicles, in reducing vehicle emissions are gradually reducing. Furthermore, with the growth in population and continuous development in Hong Kong, identifying suitable land to build the required filling infrastructure will become increasingly difficult.
As for light duty vehicles, we launched the LPG taxi and light bus grant schemes since 2000. The Government offered a grant to the concerned vehicle owners replace their diesel taxis and public light buses with LPG ones. Currently, over 99 per cent of the taxis and over 60 per cent of the public light buses are using LPG. LPG and natural gas are both clean fuels. Hence, there is no need to introduce natural gas taxis or light buses. As the existing LPG infrastructure is inadequate to support the expansion of the use of LPG to other vehicle classes, LPG is limited to taxis and light buses only.
Ends/Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:48
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