HK boosts green transport subsidies to $3.5m

It's the fifth batch of applications.

According to a government release, the Environmental Protection Department has approved the fifth batch of applications under its Pilot Green Transport Fund, involving the trial of four hybrid light buses for franchised minibus services.

The total subsidy for the two applications from Big Three Limited and Hong Kong & China Transportation Consultants is about $3.5 million.

It brings the total number of approved applications under the fund to 37, amounting to a total subsidy of $87 million. The approved trial projects comprise five electric taxis, 19 electric buses, 12 electric goods vehicles, 24 hybrid goods vehicles, and 12 hybrid light buses.

Two other successful fund applicants, Chi Shing Transportation Company and the Hong Kong Automobile Association, also started testing electric van-type vehicles since August. Four electric vans are being tested under the fund.

Set up in March 2011, the fund encourages the public transport sector to test green and low-carbon technologies. Transport operators can apply to the fund to try out different green products subject to a maximum subsidy of $9 million for each application and $12 million in total.