TWO hydrogen-powered buses began to ferry passengers on March 3 in Shanghai’s Fengxian County. The new environmentally friendly buses will be free to local residents and serve as a tourist attraction.

“The passengers prefer these buses, with their unique appearance and reduced emissions,?said the driver of one of the buses.

According to the local transportation bureau and bus companies, Shanghai plans to introduce more of these fuel efficient and comfortable buses, which should help reduce air pollution in future years.

Three electrically powered buses will be put into operation before June on the No. 11 bus line. The new electrified vehicles are faster and more comfortable than the buses currently operating on the line.

“The network of overhead cables required to power the present generation of electric buses is considered a kind of pollution. The new battery-powered buses provide a solution to this,?said an official from the local transportation bureau.

The 10.5-metre-long buses cost nearly US$100,000 each, a figure that triggers financial worries among bus companies.

An alternative power source, based on GTL (gas-to-liquid) technology, was chosen for eight buses in the city in 2004. Experts and bus companies expect a good future for the new fuel, which is likely to replace petroleum and diesel.

The bureau said the speed of the buses in Shanghai will reach 30 to 40 kilometre per hour before 2008, compared with an average of 15 kilometres per hour presently, after the introduction of new vehicles and the adjustment of bus routes. In the period to 2008, approximately 2,000 buses will be taken out of service each year and replaced by the new buses, which are more fuel efficient and cause less pollution.

GPS (Global Position System) will be fitted in the buses so their position is known at all times. This will allow passengers to know when to expect the next bus so they can better manage waiting times.