A fleet of hybrid, clean energy fuel-cell buses will be operating in this city by 2009, giving green technology a major role in public life.

A hydrogen refueling station for the buses has been built in the city's Anting area.

The development was announced yesterday at the launch of the second phase of a fuel-cell bus commercialization project jointly carried out by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

"Fuel-cell vehicles are an important technology for the future development of the automotive industry in China," Minister Wan Gang said at the launch ceremony.

The automotive industry has spent 20 years working on environment-friendly technology, and clean energy represents the future, Yu Zhuoping, dean of the school of automotive studies at Tongji University, said.

"Not only will these buses reduce the gases that cause global climate change, but they also represent a way to reduce our dependency on imported oil while easing the impact of air pollution on human health," UNDP assistant country director in China Kishan Khoday said.

The first phase of fuel-cell bus commercialization started in Beijing in 2002. Three buses have been operating during weekdays along an 18.2 km route in Beijing.

The second phase of the project is aimed at demonstrating how fuel-cell buses work and determining how best to spread the technology. It will also involve studies of policies to support the use of clean vehicles.

(China Daily November 16, 2007)