APAS-developed Plug-in Hybrid Electric Coach and 16-tonne Pure Electric Truck Make Local Debuts

To help local companies tap the green transportation market, and reduce roadside air emissions in Hong Kong, the Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems (APAS) R&D Centre of the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) has recently developed Hong Kong’s first plug-in hybrid electric coach and 16-tonne pure electric truck. Both projects are funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund of the HKSAR Government and industry partners.

The prototype vehicles of both projects were unveiled at the Eco Expo Asia International Trade Fair on Environmental Protection today (26 October 2017). Mr Bryan Ha, Assistant Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (Funding Schemes), and Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC, were present to witness Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC, handing over the vehicles to the projects’ industry partners – Mr Charles Chong, Chairman of Green Mobility Innovations Ltd., and Ms Susanna Ng, Director of E. Tech Dynamic Technology Co. Ltd.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mr Lin said, “To support Hong Kong companies to seize on opportunities in the green transportation market, APAS R&D Centre has engaged in the development of the core technologies and charging facilities of electric vehicles, and built a solid foundation on commercialization. Riding on the Government’s policy to promote smart city and green transportation, the Centre will continue to serve as the R&D partner of local industries, in their pursuit of new business opportunities.”

The 12-metre plug-in hybrid electric coach, the-first-of-its-kind to be designed, developed and assembled in Hong Kong, can recharge its Lithium Titanate batteries on the fly, thereby fulfilling the busy turnaround cycles required by the commercial fleet operator. As compared to traditional diesel coaches, it can achieve at least 40% fuel saving and 70% reduction in emission. There will be further fuel saving when the batteries are recharged at the charging stations.

The 16-tonne pure electric truck provides a zero-emission solution, for instance, for the transport of construction and building material waste. Running on an automatic gearbox-operated Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor, it has a strengthened steel and highly dust- and water-resistant battery enclosure to cater for the harsh operating conditions, and a passive battery balancing system to prolong the battery life and ranging distance. Specifically designed for heavy-duty commercial vehicles, the truck features a universal chassis design that can also be used in garbage trucks, box type and other heavy-duty vehicles. It also features a hill-hold-and-start function.

The prototype vehicles are now on display at the Eco Expo Asia until 29 October, which will be followed by a series of road tests.

In addition to these two projects, at present, APAS R&D Centre is collaborating with other Hong Kong companies on the R&D of medium, quick, mobile charging stations and wireless charging technologies. Also, having developed various smart automobile systems for driver assistance, vehicle safety and infotainment, APAS R&D Centre will focus its future R&D efforts on the ‘Connected Vehicles’.

For more information about the services of APAS R&D Centre, please visit the Centre’s website: www.apas.hk, or contact Anita Lam at tel. (852) 2788 5333 or email: anitalam@hkpc.org. For media enquiries, please contact Felix Chan at tel. (852) 2788 5036 or email: felixchan@hkpc.org.

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Justina Shum
Senior Manager
Corporate Development
Tel: (852) 2788 5895
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: justina@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

26 October 2017

Photo Caption
Mr Bryan Ha, Assistant Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (Funding Schemes) (first from left); Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC (first from right); and Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC (second from left), officiate the launching ceremony of HKPC-APAS Green Transportation R&D Results with Mr Charles Chong, Chairman of Green Mobility Innovations Ltd. (centre), and Ms Susanna Ng, Director of E. Tech Dynamic Technology Co. Ltd.
Mr Bryan Ha, Assistant Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (Funding Schemes) (third from right); Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC (fourth from right), and Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC (fourth from left), poses for a photo with the HKPC-APAS-developed 16-tonne Pure Electric Truck with the project’s industry partner E. Tech Dynamic Technology Co. Ltd., and R&D team
Mr Bryan Ha, Assistant Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (Funding Schemes) (third from right); Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC (second from left), and Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC (third from left), pose for a photo with the HKPC-APAS-developed Plug-in Hybrid Electric Coach with the project’s industry partner Green Mobility Innovations Ltd.