Home Environment Hong Kong To Subsidizes Thousands of Green Taxis and Buses

Hong Kong To Subsidizes Thousands of Green Taxis and Buses

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In a bold move to combat urban pollution, Hong Kong’s Environment and Ecology Secretary Tse Chin-wan unveiled an ambitious plan Tuesday to electrify the city’s public transportation fleet, targeting bus and taxi operators with substantial purchase subsidies.

The government will provide financial incentives for 600 electric buses and 3,000 electric taxis, a strategic initiative designed to dramatically reduce carbon emissions in the bustling metropolis. Tse emphasized that rapidly declining electric vehicle prices make the transition not just environmentally responsible, but economically sensible.

“Electric vehicles will soon be competitively priced against traditional vehicles,” Tse told reporters, predicting that government subsidies will become increasingly unnecessary as technology advances.

The comprehensive Green Transformation Roadmap aims to achieve a fully zero-emission public transit system by 2050, with progress reviews scheduled for 2027 and subsequent five-year intervals.

Local transit operators have responded positively. Citybus announced plans to purchase 200 electric buses under the scheme, while KMB confirmed it already operates more than 80 electric buses and is considering further expansion.

This initiative represents a significant step in Hong Kong’s commitment to urban sustainability and aligns with global efforts to mitigate climate change through transportation sector transformation.