$180m earmarked for electric buses

October 12, 2011

Chief Executive Donald Tsang has proposed earmarking $180 million for franchised bus companies to purchase 36 electric buses for trial on a number of routes to assess their performance in different conditions.
 
In his 2011-12 Policy Address today, Mr Tsang said if the test results are satisfactory, the Government will encourage the operators to use electric buses on a much larger scale, taking into account affordability for the companies and passengers.
 
He said to improve roadside air quality, the Government must reduce emissions. It is conducting trials of retrofitting Euro II and Euro III franchised buses with catalytic reduction devices to reduce their nitrogen-oxide emissions. Subject to the test results, these buses will be retrofitted with such devices.