Jakarta Globe – AFP, May 18, 2013
Hong Kong. Hong Kong saw its first electric taxis hit the streets on Saturday in a step towards reducing the city’s high levels of roadside pollution.
Cars drive past high rise buildings in Hong Kong on April 30, 2013. (AFP Photo/ Philippe Lopez) |
Hong Kong. Hong Kong saw its first electric taxis hit the streets on Saturday in a step towards reducing the city’s high levels of roadside pollution.
The 45
bright red cars were launched by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD, which
is partly backed by US investment titan Warren Buffett.
Called the
BYD e6, the five-door crossover sedans are powered by iron phosphate batteries
and take two hours to charge, a statement from BYD said, adding that they can
then travel for 300 kilometers (more than 180 miles).
The cars
have been rented by the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association, which
is testing them over the next six months.
“The idea
of being environmentally friendly is a global trend and the electric car is one
good example,” said Wong Chung Keung, president and chairman of the
association.
“An
electric car saves the cost of fuel and will allow our taxi drivers to earn
more,” he added, saying that a normal taxi would cost HK$0.8 (10 US cents) to
run per kilometer (0.6 miles) while an electric car would cost HK$0.2-HK$0.3.
He called
for more charging stations around the city to encourage taxi drivers to go
electric, BYD said it is setting up 47 chargers in nine charging locations near
car parks.
Hong Kong’s
Financial Secretary John Tsang was quoted in a BYD statement as welcoming the
electric car and saying he was committed to “promoting environmental
sustainability by laying the foundation for Hong Kong to become a zero
emissions city”.
The
government announced revisions to its air quality objectives for the first time
in 25 years in January 2012, after University of Hong Kong research showed
pollution-related illnesses killed more than 3,000 residents a year.
Agence France-Presse
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