A fleet of hybrid, clean energy fuel-cell buses will be
operating in this city by 2009, giving green technology a major
role in public life.
A hydrogen refueling station for the buses has been built in the
city's Anting area.
The development was announced yesterday at the launch of the
second phase of a fuel-cell bus commercialization project jointly
carried out by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and
the Ministry of Science and Technology.
"Fuel-cell vehicles are an important technology for the future
development of the automotive industry in China," Minister Wan Gang
said at the launch ceremony.
The automotive industry has spent 20 years working on
environment-friendly technology, and clean energy represents the
future, Yu Zhuoping, dean of the school of automotive studies at
Tongji University, said.
"Not only will these buses reduce the gases that cause global
climate change, but they also represent a way to reduce our
dependency on imported oil while easing the impact of air pollution
on human health," UNDP assistant country director in China Kishan
Khoday said.
The first phase of fuel-cell bus commercialization started in
Beijing in 2002. Three buses have been operating during weekdays
along an 18.2 km route in Beijing.
The second phase of the project is aimed at demonstrating how
fuel-cell buses work and determining how best to spread the
technology. It will also involve studies of policies to support the
use of clean vehicles.
(China Daily November 16, 2007)