All charged up, ready to roll

A fleet of 42 new BYD electric double-decker buses of Kowloon Motor Bus will start running in Hong Kong later this month.

KMB said yesterday it has been conducting final checks on the "electric green" buses manufactured by Shenzhen-based BYD and that the first will be put into operation soon.

Managing director Roger Lee Chak-cheong said the company was moving forward with the goal of replacing its entire 4,100-bus fleet with electric buses by 2040.

He also said the bus company will continue cooperating with BYD on the electric bus operation, maintenance and battery usage.

The 12-meter-long double-decker can carry 115 passengers and travel about 300 kilometers after being fully charged in about three hours, which is enough for a whole-day journey on most KMB routes.

The buses are all equipped with highly efficient Blade Battery, battery management and water cooling systems, which help monitor the efficiency and condition of the battery and control its temperature to effectively extend its life and improve performance.

A delegation from BYD took a ride on the double-deckers to visit KMB Kowloon Bay depot, where they were showed vehicle-washing facilities, maintenance equipment, coin box operation and the shift-arranging team, to gain a better understanding of the daily operation of KMB's electric buses.

BYD commercial vehicle operation manager Tian Chunlong said they were glad to cooperate with Hong Kong's largest franchised bus company, adding they were encouraged by the smooth operation of the 16 BYD electric single-decker buses that started service in April last year.

Their routes included busy areas like Nathan Road.

"We look forward to the launch of BYD's most advanced double-decker electric bus, which will open a new chapter in Hong Kong's green transport development," Tian said.

"We will continue to work closely with KMB in the future, and with BYD's advanced battery technology and rich experience in commercial bus applications, we can further improve the efficiency of electric bus operations and contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality in the country and Hong Kong."

Patrick Fung Kin-wai, chief executive of nongovernment organization Clean Air Network, said adopting electric buses will definitely improve the air quality of the city.

Aiming to halve carbon emissions from the 2005 level by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the government has been vigorously promoting new energy transportation in recent years.

It proposed running about 700 electric buses by the end of 2027.

"We suggest at least half of Hong Kong's over 6,000 buses be replaced by new-energy buses by 2030 to 2035 to meet the government's target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050," Fung said.

There are also 10 electric double-decker buses arriving this year from the United Kingdom's Alexander Dennis.

Each can carry 120 passengers, the highest capacity in Hong Kong.

KMB said last year it was installing charging facilities in the existing depots and was preparing to build two multi-story depots for electric buses in Tuen Mun and Tai Po.

They were expected to be completed in four to five years, with 850 parking spaces provided.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com