Photo taken on June 22, 2016 shows a view of the Victoria Bay in Hong Kong, south China. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Shun Hing New Energy launched on Tuesday its brand new electric public light bus as Hong Kong strives to achieve zero vehicular emissions and carbon neutrality.
The Moonca electric minibus takes only around 18 minutes to charge from 10 percent to 90 percent of its battery capacity and it can travel about 50 kilometers for every 8-10 minutes of charging time, according to the company.
With Moonca, the utmost emphasis has been placed on safety, said Bowdy Lee, senior manager at Shun Hing New Energy
With Moonca, the utmost emphasis has been placed on safety, said Bowdy Lee, senior manager at Shun Hing New Energy.
“Both the driver and passenger seats are equipped with three-point seat belts, which can reduce casualties in the event of an accident. The seats are made of fire-resistant materials certified by the European Union, and the seats positioned along the aisle are also designed with adjustable armrests,” Lee said.
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The launch of Moonca reflects Hong Kong’s ambition to develop new energy transport and realize carbon neutrality before 2050.
As of March, carbon emissions from transport made up around 20 percent of total carbon emissions in Hong Kong, according to statistics from the Secretary for Environment and Ecology.
The government has earmarked HK$80 million ($10.24 million) for a pilot program, subsidizing 40 electric public light buses and their associated charging facilities. Shun Hing New Energy is selected as one of six prequalified suppliers of electric public light buses under the program.
The government has made notable progress in promoting the popularization of electric vehicles.
READ MORE: HK to cut per capita carbon emissions to 3.3 tonnes by 2030
The Hong Kong Roadmap on Popularization of Electric Vehicles has set a target to cease registration of new fuel-propelled private cars by 2035 or earlier. Driven by government policies, the percentage of electric private cars among all newly registered vehicles has soared in recent years from 6.3 percent in 2019 to 52.8 percent last year.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's 2022 Policy Address also set a target for Hong Kong to introduce about 700 electric buses and 3,000 electric taxis by end-2027.
