KMB has newly introduced single-deck electric buses this year, and has expressed confidence in the operation of electric buses.
In June this year, KMB even stated that unless the electric bus package fails to cooperate, KMB will stop purchasing traditional diesel buses.
However, KMB’s plan to suspend the purchase of diesel buses may have been quietly postponed.
KMB issued a tender announcement on its official website yesterday (15th), intending to purchase 100 double-decker buses that meet the EU Type 6 emission standard. The delivery date is the first quarter of 2024.
As soon as the news came out, KMB was questioned as a "slingshot", which was inconsistent with the earlier statement that it "will stop purchasing traditional diesel buses".
In response to the enquiry of "Hong Kong 01", KMB acknowledged that due to the latest global material supply and the operating environment in Hong Kong, and considering that the 52 double-decker electric buses that KMB has purchased have not yet arrived in Hong Kong and put into service, in order to ensure stable and reliable buses Therefore, the relevant tender invitation is made.
KMB also emphasized that the goal of fully using new energy buses in 2040 remains unchanged, and will continue to purchase electric buses at the same time.
+3
The KMB tender announcement circulating on the Internet was issued yesterday (15th), and the announcement stated that KMB intends to purchase double-decker air-conditioned buses that have already been assembled and meet the EU Type 6 emission standard.
The announcement also mentioned that KMB intends to purchase about 100 vehicles and deliver them in the first quarter of 2024.
The KMB Tender Announcement was issued on August 15, which stated that KMB intends to purchase the assembled EU 6 air-conditioned double-decker buses.
Looking through past reports, KMB has stated that the operation of electric buses is smooth, and decided to stop purchasing traditional diesel buses, and predicted that the diesel buses delivered to Hong Kong this year are likely to be the last batch of diesel vehicles in the KMB fleet.
KMB Assistant Director (Communications) Lam Tze-ho said when he attended a media tea gathering in June this year that the performance of the electric bus "gives us (KMB) good confidence". If it fails to cooperate, KMB will stop purchasing traditional diesel buses, and it is believed that the entire fleet can be upgraded to new energy buses in 2040.
"Hong Kong 01" asked KMB about the resumption of procurement of diesel buses, and KMB acknowledged that it had recently issued relevant procurement announcements.
KMB explained that in view of the latest global material supply, the operating environment in Hong Kong, and considering that the 52 double-decker electric buses that KMB has purchased have not yet entered into service in Hong Kong, the invitation was made to ensure a stable and reliable bus service.
KMB also emphasized that the goal of striving for full use of new energy buses in 2040 will remain unchanged, and will continue to purchase electric buses at the same time.
Concerned organizations questioned that the electric bus currently fails to fully meet the service demand
Han Jiamo, chairman of the "Public Transport Research Group", a non-governmental concern group, said that when KMB pointed out two months ago that it would stop purchasing traditional diesel buses, the premise was that electric buses were "maturely equipped."
The current situation shows that the electric buses obviously cannot fully meet the service demand, and the electric buses operating in Hong Kong generally have the problem of insufficient endurance.
Han continued to point out that most of the electric buses that KMB has introduced at this stage are single-deck buses, which carry less passengers than double-decker buses, making it difficult to meet the needs of Hong Kong.
Regarding KMB's goal of fully using new energy buses in 2040, he believes that although the introduction of new energy vehicles into public transport services is a general trend, it still depends on the development of electric bus technology. , which may be delayed by several years.
▼The first double-decker electric bus was put into service on June 19▼
+11
Electric bus｜Citybus double-decker electric bus will make its first voyage on June 19, Route 5B between the Stadium and Kennedy Town Electric Bus｜The first double-decker electric bus will start running on Citybus routes 5B and 22M in May or electric bus carrying passengers during summer vacation ｜KMB purchased 42 BYD double-decker electric buses, and the first exposure of the design also uses turquoise electric buses ｜ KMB has built a new electric bus depot in Tuen Mun to provide 406 electric bus berths on the 11th floor