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BEIJING, Nov. 1 -- Construction on the first factory to build environment
friendly electric buses is under way in Yantai, a coastal city in East China's
Shandong Province.
With an investment of 250 million yuan (US$30.9 million) in the first phase
of the project, the first bu
s should roll off the assembly line late next year,
said Xie Rongan, chairman of the Yantan-based China-Rising Motors Tech Zone Co
Ltd.
Some of the first buses will be put into operation in Beijing and Shanghai
where the 2008 Olympic games and the 2010 World Expo will take place.
The city's Fushan District has seen some trial buses travel along a
15-kilometre route since early September. "The six buses on trial have been
running smoothly," said district head Jiang Zhonger.
Almost two months of tests have shown no big problems. "We haven't received
any complaints from passengers," Jiang said.
Tests showed energy costs for the new buses are only one third of costs for
those using gas.
"With no engine and other equipment associated with the gasoline system,
maintenance for the buses is easy and saves money," said Xie.
An annual turnout of 12,000 buses is expected to reach an output value of
15 billion yuan (US$1.9 billion) when completed.
The buses are highly valued by 'green' experts and are expected to replace
public buses, trolleybuses and tramcars operating in downtown areas in Chinese
cities.
"Of the 32 bus assembly lines in China, the line constructed here is the
most promising," said Wang Xibang, deputy dean and senior engineer of MMI
(Machinery Manufacturing Institute) Planning & Engineering Institute IX. The
institute has designed 27 of the lines.
Different to tramcars with rails, the new buses can move around freely just
like regular buses, getting charged up within 30 seconds at every stop while
passengers get in and out, said Xie.
"With no gas pollution to the air, the buses are worth promoting," said Liu
Hongliang, a leading scientist with the Chinese Academy of Environmental
Sciences.
Because of increasing shortages of petrol, buses powered by electricity
will save a lot of energy, Wang said.
"The new buses are even competitive in the world market where bus
transportation is still prevailing," Wang said.
(Source: China Daily)
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