A US$32 million project was launched
yesterday to help reduce the cost of fuel-cell bus (FCB)
technology, one of the most promising methods for developing
emission-free public transport.
Jointly funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology,
Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations
Development Program, the project will lead to trials of FCBs -
along with their hydrogen refueling stations - in Beijing and
Shanghai.
Over the next five years, the project will help public
transit companies in each municipality obtain six FCBs and use
them for a total of 1.6 million kilometers.
The knowledge and experience gained through the project
will enable technology suppliers to identify cost reduction
opportunities and the municipal public transit operators to
prepare for larger FCB fleets, according to Ma Songde,
vice-minister of science and technology.
"Finally, a detailed strategy for large-scale FCB
implementation in China will be defined," Ma said.
Fan Boyuan, vice-mayor of Beijing, applauded the scheme,
saying it will greatly assist the Chinese capital's battle to
curb transport pollution.
According to Fan, a reduction in exhaust emissions, which
can be attributed to the city's stepped up administrative
measures to combat the problem, is one of the major reasons
behind improved air quality.
About 60 percent of last year's days are regarded as having
"fine air quality."
"Beijing is steadily replacing petrol with clean energy
such as liquefied petroleum gas in its public transit system,"
Fan said.
"We hope many FCBs are on the roads during the 2008 Olympic
Games for the sake of better air quality."
China's bus project is part of a global GEF strategy, which
supports FCB development in developing countries.
In cooperation with GEF projects and other similar
proposals in industrialized countries, GEF wants to reduce the
expense of FCBs so they can become more cost-competitive, a
ministry source said.
The ministry also disclosed yesterday in a document that
requests for FCB proposals for Beijing and Shanghai were
expected during autumn.
"Bids for different combinations of fuel cell engines, bus
chassis and body manufacturers, and fuelling system vendors
will be sought and encouraged. It is preferred that a single
supplier will be contracted for the buses and fuelling system,
with appropriate sub-contracting arrangements," it said.
