Electric buses in 2014 Battery-powered tests this month
2012.10.10
EIGHTEEN electric buses will be in service in 2014 and the first batterypowered bus will be tested this month, said Evan Auyang (歐陽杞浚), Kowloon Motor Bus’s (KMB) Deputy Managing Director (副董事總經理).
Tests will take place over one to two years. Sandbags are going to be used to simulate passenger weight, said Auyang.
Ten of the electric buses are battery-powered, while the others use supercapacitors. They are like really powerful batteries that are used on electric-powered vehicles. The battery-powered buses will be responsible for five routes. Although there are only single-decker battery buses at present, double-decker ones will be introduced in the future.
Tests for supercapacitor buses have already begun. A fully charged bus could travel eight to 10 km on one charge. Chargers will be installed at bus terminals and busier bus stops.
Auyang stressed that although electric buses cost more than diesel ones, their introduction would not lead to a raise in bus fares.
