BYD Company Ltd. recently announced a plan for electrifying Hong Kong City’s public transportation system by replacing diesel buses and propane autogas taxis. Experts anticipate that this will reduce Hong Kong’s vehicle emissions nearly 56 percent. BYD unveiled its plan to introduce e6 pure electric taxis in the region in May.
The first fleet of 45 BYD e6 pure electric taxis is scheduled for launch in Hong Kong in May, according to the company. Meanwhile, BYD and its partners have already built and tested three charging stations in Oi Man Estate, Shek Wai Kok Estate, and Wong Tai Sin. The second batch of charging stations is expected to be set up before May with the expectation that each taxi will be complemented by a charging appliance. BYD is also collaborating with local industry partners to pursue further developments in electrified public transport for Hong Kong, including BYD 40-foot electric buses.
Replacing Hong Kong’s 18,000 propane autogas taxis and 12,000 diesel buses with electric taxis and buses would mean a reduction in emissions equivalent to over 800,000 private cars, according to BYD, and a leap towards its ultimate target: low-city-noise, zero emissions, and zero pollution. Given the difference in price between fossil fuels and electricity, electric transport can also help the transport industry save costs. For instance, each BYD e6 pure electric taxi is capable of saving approximately 110,000HKD annually in operating costs.
BYD’s pure electric vehicles use an Iron-Phosphate (Fe) battery, which touts industry-leading safety qualifications and superior life. The battery maintains high-performance capabilities over long periods of use and can stably withstand extreme environmental conditions, according to the company. Taking the e6 pure electric vehicle as an example, after 4,000 charging cycles, the capacity of the battery remains at above 75 percent of its original capacity, and the total mileage can reach over 1 million km. The BYD e6 can completely fulfill the usage requirements of taxis and private cars. Apart from this, the e6 pure electric vehicle has passed all safety testing to international standards, and the K9 pure electric bus has received the EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) and US FMVSS safety certification.
