Hangzhou charges up and plugs into electric cars

Starting this year, the Hangzhou municipal government in China will invest 100 million yuan (US$14.6 million) annually to promote clean, alternative fuel vehicles in a city heavily dependent on the internal combustion engine. The city will spend primarily on building infrastructure for electric and hybrid vehicles, researching auto components and maintaining electric vehicles. The city began retooling and converting its buses to electric energy last year. The city reports that diesel emissions have been reduced and every converted bus can save 10% on fuel, representing a saving of 18,000 yuan (US$2,637) per bus per year. By 2012 the city plans to have 3,000 hybrid buses. (March 10, 2010)