China develops self-driving electric city buses

The first solely electric-powered self-driving city buses have rolled off the production line and finished initial testing at a factory in central China's Hubei Province.

The 6.7-meter long buses were jointly developed by Hubei-based auto maker Dongfeng Xiangyang Touring Car Co. Ltd. and Beijing Institute of Technology, the provincial economy and information technology commission said Monday.

After successful testing at the factory, the first two buses have been sent to Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, where they will be tested on the road.

The buses are expected to be put into use in as yet unconfirmed areas at the end of November, said the commission.

The buses can carry 25 passengers and run at a maximum speed of 40 km/h. They have the ability to switch between manual driving and self-driving.

They have energy saving features and boast high quality parts and manufacturing. A single charge allows them to drive to a maximum 150 km. The key parts, including the motor, are expected to last for over 1.2 million km without failure.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)