HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s first hydrogen-powered double-decker bus went into trial operation on Thursday together with the city’s first hydrogen refuelling station for buses, with public service scheduled in January next year at the earliest, said the bus operator, Citybus.

At the launching ceremony, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he was delighted over the launch, which has set an important milestone for the use of new energy vehicles in Hong Kong.

“Hydrogen vehicles can travel in long distance and are fast to refuel, making hydrogen a potential energy source for global low-carbon transition,” he said.

According to Citybus, refuelling of the first hydrogen bus takes as fast as about 10 minutes. Once more advanced models are rolled out, the buses can run for up to 400 kilometres on a single refuelling.

Hydrogen buses are more environmentally friendly than diesel buses as only water is emitted during the operation.

Citybus plans to replace all diesel buses with zero-emission buses by 2045.

The first hydrogen bus came as Hong Kong steps up efforts to develop the green transport industry.

In his second Policy Address delivered last month, the CE said the special administrative region government will formulate the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong next year, and commence the preparatory work for the necessary legislative amendments pertaining to the production, storage, transportation and application of hydrogen fuel with a view to introducing a bill into the Legislative Council in 2025.