'The (initial six) buses will be made possible under a UN program to create environmentally friendly public transport in big developing counties such as India, Brazil, Egypt and China,' Yu said. 'Beijing and Shanghai are the only Chinese cities in the program.'

The buses will go into trial operation at the Shanghai International Automobile City in Jiading District before the project is expanded to the downtown, including near the World Expo site, he said.

The plan for 100 new 'green' vehicles also includes short-distance shuttle buses for use between residential communities and public transport centers, and family electric cars for urban daily use.

The city is already using electricity on its commuter buses. There are now eight electric-powered buses on Route 11, which travels around Yuyuan Garden area. That fleet has covered about 800,000 kilometers in the past two years.

Twenty-five electric buses will be put on Route 26 starting in October, and others will be added to more public lines in the future.

China is now considering a project to ensure 1,000 environmentally friendly public buses in 10 big cities.

(Shanghai Daily August 19, 2008)