China Aims for 300,000 “New Energy” Buses and Taxis by 2020

China intends to have 300,000 clean energy-fueled buses and taxis on its roads by 2020.

The country’s Ministry of Transportation announced a goal of having at least 200,000 “new energy” public buses, and 100,000 “new energy” taxis, across China by the end of the decade, according to Beijing Daily.

“New energy vehicles” are those that are 100% battery electric, hybrid electric, fuel cell electric or alternative fuel-powered.

The government set a further goal of having at least 35% of public buses, taxis and “urban logistics” vehicles in Beijing, Tianjin and nearby Hebei province run on new energy.  This massive urban area, with a heavy industrial base, is well-known for its air pollution.

Separately, China has produced the world’s first hydrogen-fueled tram, Bloomberg reports.

Sifang Co., a subsidiary of the China South Rail Corp., built the hydrogen-powered tram at a factory in Qingdao, according to Bloomberg. A three-car tram can carry 380 passengers, with water its only emission.

China plans to spend $32 billion over the next five years to buy more trams and to increase tram tracks nationwide to more than 1,200 miles, up from just 83 miles today.

And Hainan Airlines became the first Chinese airline to pilot a commercial passenger flight using biofuel produced from waste cooking oil known as “gutter oil”, traveling two hours between Shanghai and Beijing.  The biofuel was made by China Petroleum and Chemical Corp (Sinopec), according to Channel News Asia.

China Considers Foreign Investors in Power Sector

Nothing is certain yet, but China has signaled its willingness to consider allowing foreign capital into parts of its electric industry, China Daily reports.

The State Council issued a reform plan aimed at encouraging competition in the sector and revamping its pricing structure.

As part of those reforms, officials will consider allowing private and foreign investors into power-related business like sales and distribution. No timetable for a decision was announced.

The reform plan also is intended to help China “optimize” its energy mix while increasing the amount of electricity it gets from renewable energy, China Daily reports.

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