Hong Kong's first electric coach is faster, lighter
The vehicle, bought by CLP for staff transport, is a third cheaper to run than the diesel version
Power company CLP, which introduced Hong Kong's first electric coach yesterday, says it plans eventually to replace all its staff shuttle buses with the non-polluting vehicles.
Mainly for staff transport, the 49-seater will also be available for trials by other organisations.
Managing director Richard Lancaster said that while the coach cost HK$3 million - double the price of an equivalent diesel vehicle - he believed it would prove economical as the power cost was 27 per cent that of diesel.
The coach - built in Shandong province - joins CLP's fleet of almost 60 electric vehicles, and can travel 250 to 300 kilometres on a three-hour charge. Chinese University, the Science and Technology Parks and Caritas have joined the test programme.
Lancaster gave no timetable for switching CLP's staff transport from diesel to electric.