Macao’s public transport fleet will take on a fresh look at the start of next year when 360 new-energy public buses take to the road.
The Transport Bureau (DSAT) said that 200 of the extended-range e-buses were bought by TCM and 160 by Transmac.
Extended-range electric vehicles have a plug-in battery pack and an electric motor, as well as an internal combustion engine. The electric motor is used for driving the wheels, while the internal combustion engine is only used as a generator to recharge the battery when it is depleted.
The bureau is monitoring the public bus companies to ensure that they implement their six-year service agreements, which took effect last year and will expire at the end of 2026.
Since 1 July this year, the average age of the vehicles must not be more than seven-and-a-half years, and any vehicle in operation must not be older than 10 years; vehicles older than 10 years are subject to mandatory withdrawal.
After the new e-buses have come into operation, the two bus operators will have to phase out their old buses while maintaining the total number of buses in operation.
As of last month, TCM and Transmac had 306 NEVs in operation, accounting for 33 per cent of all public buses in operation in the city.
With the commissioning of the new batch of new e-buses, the proportion of new-energy public buses in operation in Macao will increase to over 60 per cent, DSAT noted.
The bureau will continue to monitor the replacement of new energy buses by the two bus companies to promote safe, comfortable and environmentally friendly bus services for passengers, The Macau Post Daily reported.
