KMB to roll out fleet of 16 new electric buses after LNY

The Kowloon Motor Bus company will introduce 16 new electric buses after the Lunar New Year on routes connecting the urban area, including Nathan Road and Kwun Tong Road.  

The new BYD B12A single-deck electric bus is four percent lighter than the old model K9R electric bus, with the passenger capacity increased by 16 percent to 81.  

It takes only one hour and 40 minutes to be fully charged - 2 hours faster than before - to deliver 200 km of zero-emission transport.  

With the body painted "Electric Green," the new buses are equipped with a battery management system and a water-cooling system.  

The battery management system monitors battery efficiency and condition, while the water-cooling system controls the battery temperature, effectively extending the battery life cycle and improving performance.  

It is also equipped with a wheel drive system, in which the motor is installed in the wheels to drive the bus directly, improving power efficiency, reducing maintenance costs, and freeing up compartment space.  

"As more zero-emission buses join the KMB's fleet, it brings a greener traveling option to Hong Kong people, and steps forwards to achieve carbon neutrality in Hong Kong,” Gary Leung Ling-yin, Assistant Director (Strategic Planning) of KMB, said. 

The new bus was a collaboration between KMB and CLP Power, where CLP Power provides technical support for charging systems, and KMB shares related data that lays the foundation for electrifying KMB's bus fleet.  

CLP Power also recommended setting up quick chargers at Kowloon Bay and Lai Chi Kok Depots by utilizing the existing power capacity to commission the new electric buses as early as possible.  

CLP Power Deputy Director of Corporate Customer Experience Lo Kwok-yau said, “With the insightful analysis of the charging data of the new electric buses including charging time and power consumption patterns, we will be able to provide KMB with cost-effective and operationally efficient technical solutions on charging while they move towards electrification and low-carbon transformation of their fleets in the future.”

In line with Hong Kong's target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, KMB has launched the project that the entire bus fleet of some 4,000 buses will be upgraded to use new energy, making it the company with the largest eco-friendly bus fleet in Hong Kong.   

KMB and Long Win Bus's 30 single-deck electric buses, together with the 52 double-deck electric buses privately purchased last year, are expected to make up a fleet of over 80 electric buses by the end of 2022.   

The company is also installing charging facilities for electric buses in the depots and plans to build two multi-story depots for electric buses in Tuen Mun and Tai Po, which is expected to provide quick-charging space for 850 buses.   

In addition, KMB is installing more than 20,000 solar panels in 11 depots, 3,000 bus stops, and 1,000 buses. Up to 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity will be generated annually, which is equivalent to the electricity consumption for 8 minutes per person by the entire 7.5 million population in Hong Kong.   

Moreover, the solar panel system on the roof of double-deckers can supply electricity to the air-conditioning systems and ventilation systems, saving up to 5 percent to 8 percent of the daily fuel consumption of each bus.