Double-decker eBuses to hit the road on Sunday

The first batch of electric double-decker buses from the Kowloon Motor Bus will hit the road to serve the public from Sunday, commuting on route 213M between On Tai in Kwun Tong and Lam Tin Station.

Mainly colored "electric green", the electric double-decker has a capacity of 115 passengers and a 300-kilometer range on a two hour charge, which is enough for most operational needs.

There are 12 bus stops on the nine-kilometer-long route. On the first day of service, the first and last bus will depart at 11am and 9pm. Then, it will run from 5am to 2am from Monday.

KMB believes these electric buses would offer better operation and passenger experience.

The batteries of these buses are smaller, thanks to the "blade battery technology". Compartment facilities including ventilation will be powered by solar panels on the vehicle top.

"Electric buses are more quiet and emit no pollutants. They wouldn't cause pedestrians to feel hot due to engine heat," the company's director of operations Kwan Chi-wai said.

Kwan said the new electric double-deckers have passed the demanding requirement to travel on the hilly nature of some of Hong Kong's roads dotted with numerous stops under strict safety standards, adding that buses in Hong Kong are usually loaded with many passengers.

According to KMB, the new buses are equipped with eco-friendly facilities including LED lighting for compartment illumination in addition to the solar panels on the vehicle's top.

Whereas meeting zero-emission standards is a must for these new buses, they are also equipped to provide passengers free 5G WiFi Internet service, USB charging ports and more. The electric buses also feature "water-cooling and "battery management" systems that effectively manage the battery temperature and monitor the battery status to extend the battery life.

During deceleration, some of the kinetic energy can be converted into electrical energy for energy recovery, enhancing battery efficiency.

KMB currently has 12 bus charging points.

The company said it would actively increase its charging facilities with plans to build two new energy-efficient bus multi-story car parks in Tuen Mun and Tai Po in the next four to five years to provide 850 bus charging points.

KMB said it has also applied to the government to open its charging facilities to other electric commercial vehicles during the day to help expand the city's charging network.

KMB assistant operation director Mak Shing-pong said the building of multiple new housing estates in the coming years would lead to increase demand for bus services and the company would continue to allocate resources to improve its fleet and to face probable traffic congestion.

KMB plans to increase the number of electric buses to 500 by 2027 and replace its entire fleet with new energy buses by 2040.