First Electric Bus Opened to Passengers in Changsha

The first electric bus, the BYD K9, welcomed its first batch of passengers on Jan.24, which started a three-month trial run as No. 103 bus.
A purchase and sale agreement of intent about 1,000 electric buses was reached between Changsha Municipal People's Government and Changsha BYD Auto Co., Ltd., marking Changsha's entry to the era of electromotion buses.
Reporter learned from the Bureau of Transportation of Changsha City that the city has stepped up the pace of bus upgrading and updating since 2009.
In the past two years, 1,242 old buses were replaced and 512 ones were substituted by environment friendly vehicles.
In the next two years, the city will exert more efforts to continue the work. And it is expected that emissions of all buses could meet China Emission Standard, said Li Hong, vice chief of the bureau.

Vice Mayor of Changsha City Wen Shuxun was also on K9's first trip from the East Bus Station that day and hailed the city's efforts to build the first "green-bus" city.
Translator: Xie Jingjing