24th batch of applications approved under Pilot Green Transport Fund

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (December 17) announced its approval of the 24th batch of applications for the trials of green innovative transport technologies under the Pilot Green Transport Fund.

     The five newly approved applications are for the trials of six electric light goods vehicles involving a total subsidy of about $1.3 million. The applications were from:
 
DT Group (HK) Limited
Harvest Era Limited
Tai Po Frozen Meats Co
Take Well Limited
Vegetable Marketing Organization

     The latest approval brings the total number of trials being pursued under the Fund to 140 for testing three electric taxis, three electric light buses, 21 single-deck electric buses, 78 electric light goods vehicles, one electric medium goods vehicle (tractor), 48 hybrid light goods vehicles, 28 hybrid medium goods vehicles, 11 hybrid public light buses, two single-deck hybrid buses, one solar air-conditioning system for bus, four electric inverter air conditioning systems for buses, three diesel-electric propulsion systems for ferries and one seawater scrubber for ferry, amounting to a total subsidy of about $139 million.

     At present, 105 approvals under the Fund are already on trial. Sixty-seven of them have completed the trials, involving three electric taxis, eight single-deck electric buses, 42 electric light goods vehicles, 25 hybrid light goods vehicles, 14 hybrid medium goods vehicles, five hybrid public light buses, one solar air-conditioning system for bus, two electric inverter air-conditioning systems for buses, one diesel-electric propulsion system for ferry and one seawater scrubber for ferry have completed their trials. The EPD will continue to upload the interim and final reports once completed to the Fund's website for public information.

     The Government put in place the $300 million Fund in March 2011 to subsidise the testing of green innovative transport technologies. The Fund is open for applications from public transport operators, charitable and non-profit making organisations providing services to clients, and goods vehicle operators. The technologies for trial include alternative-fueled vehicles, conversion of in-use conventional vehicles to alternative-fueled vehicles, and after-treatment emission reduction devices or fuel saving devices related to transport activities. Transport operators may apply for the Fund to try out different green innovative products subject to a maximum subsidy of $9 million for each application and $12 million in total.

     For more information on the Fund and the approved applications, please visit the EPD website (www.epd.gov.hk) or call the enquiry hotline on 2824 0022.