Hong Kong receives first electric double-decker

News stories are free to read. Click here for full access to all the features, articles and archive from only £8.99.

HONG KONG

The first electric double-decker bus has arrived in Hong Kong, NWFB and Hong Kong Citybus parent company Bravo Transport Services announced recently. The bus is the result of a joint project by Bravo Transport Services and Wisdom (Fuijian) Motor Company. The companies said they worked together to design a bus with a focus on enabling the bus to handle the city’s specific topography and operating environment.

The bus retains the yellow of the existing Citybus fleet but with blue relief to highlight its electric drive and lack of carbon emissions, though Bravo told Hong Kong’s The Standard newspaper that a final livery would be unveiled in due course at the public launch and added that the bus will undergo a series of rigorous tests before completing the Transport Department’s official vehicle inspection.

The launch date has not yet been announced, and the bus is expected to operate on routes across the city to gain in-service operational data. A spokesperson for Wisdom told the newspaper that the company was proud to have collaborated with Bravo in the project, and has high hopes that the bus, equipped with next generation technologies, will be suitable for the city’s operating environment.

Bravo Transport Services CEO Adam Leishman said he believed public transport bus companies can help in achieving the carbon neutrality goal: “Electrification is only one of the many options in our search for the right future solution to deliver zero-emission public transport solutions. As our city moves towards its carbon neutrality goals, we believe public transport bus companies can help contribute to this by supporting the future government targets and aspirations. Having Hong Kong’s first-ever electric double-decker bus in our fleet signifies our company’s strong commitment towards a zero-emission future and we are proud to be the first operator of this type of vehicle, which is the mainstay of Hong Kong’s Public Bus operations.”

The bus will be trialled on routes around Hong Kong. BRAVO TRANSPORT SERVICES