Hongkongers can test ride electric minibuses and cross-harbour ferries in 2023 as budget allocates HK$430 million for green-energy transport
- Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing wants to help in funding purchase of electric minibuses and building of charging facilities
- But air quality activist says scope should also include other modes of transport, including hydrogen buses and electric taxis
Hongkongers can expect to test ride electric minibuses and cross-harbour ferries in 2023 as HK$430 million (US$55 million) has been allocated to develop green-energy transport in the budget announced on Wednesday.
The Environment Bureau has unveiled a plan to develop the city’s road map to popularise electric vehicles to improve Hong Kong’s air quality.
“Minibuses are unique to Hong Kong’s road transport and we hope to help in funding the purchase of new electric minibuses and the building of charging facilities,” Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing said on Thursday.
The Environment Bureau will allocate HK$80 million (US$10 million) for the purchase of 40 electric minibuses and to set up charging facilities along their routes.
I hope they do not build up expectations that they fail to deliver. The government should take this opportunity to include more commercial vehicles, such as the development of hydrogen buses and electric taxis
The pilot plan will mainly focus on green minibuses as these have set routes which will make it easier to build charging stations, Owin Fung Ho-yin, deputy director of the Environmental Protection Department, said.