Hong Kong launches first electric taxis to curb pollution

Hong Kong saw its first electric taxis hit the streets on May 18, in a step towards reducing the city’s high levels of pollution.
The 45 bright red cars were launched by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD, which is partly backed by U.S. 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, or 186 miles, on a single charge.
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 0.8 HK dollar (US$0.10) to run per kilometer while an electric car would cost 0.2-0.3 HK dollar (US$0.03-0.04).
He called for more charging stations around the city to encourage taxi drivers to go electric. Accordingly, 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.
(May 18, 2013)