Chinese electric vehicle company BYD sets up joint venture in Hong Kong
Leading Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, whose products include the E6 electric car and the K9 city bus, have teamed up with two Hong Kong based organisations to set up an advanced electric vehicle R & D centre in Hong Kong Science Park. Hong Kong Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems R&D Centre (APAS) and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) are joining with BYD to promote the development of electric vehicles and associated technologies.
K9 Electric Bus
Hong Kong's high technology base, compact size, and strategic location make this cosmopolitan city an ideal place for the increased utilisation of electric transport. The consortium expects that the R & D centre will contribute to the development of a new generation of zero-emission electric vehicles dedicated to the Hong Kong transportation system. Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), Mr E. Anthony Tan, welcomed BYD establishing a base in Hong Kong Science Park, "Green technology is one of our focused technology clusters. Promoting the development of electric vehicles would further reinforce Hong Kong's position as an intelligent and energy efficient city. HKSTPC will make every endeavour to support and facilitate the development in this area." Built along the waterfront, the 22 hectare Hong Kong Science Park provides 20 state-of-the-art laboratory-fitted buildings offering technology support to over 300 high-tech companies operating there in the fields of integrated circuits and electronics; precision engineering, biotechnology, green technology and ICT. These companies range from start-ups and SMEs to multi-national conglomerates both locally-based and overseas headquartered.
Hong Kong Science Park night view panorama
Collaboration between BYD and Hong Kong research institutes to develop electric vehicles will cover the integration of BYD's electric vehicles technology and automotive parts and accessory systems developed in Hong Kong for demonstration of their applications. Three automotive parts and accessory systems developed in Hong Kong will be installed onto BYD's electric vehicles for demonstration. BYD will also participate in the Electric Cars section of the InnoCarnival in Hong Kong this November. Both parties will also explore opportunities for a trial use of electric vehicles in Hong Kong.
E6 Electric car
China has invested heavily in electric vehicle technology in an attempt to leapfrog over the market disadvantages in competing with existing major corporations in the field of conventionally-powered vehicles, such as petrol and diesel internal combustion engines, and this new move by BYD will continue this emphasis on future transportation technologies which have much greater low-carbon potential than existing ones.
Images courtesy BYD and Hong Kong Science Park.
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Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
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