Environment-friendly buses run on Tibetan plateau

A batch of 147 new energy buses -- 27 electric and 120 hybrid -- went into service in Lhasa, capital city of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, this month.

The new energy buses generate 30 percent less emissions than traditional buses and are running on five routes. Lhasa's buses and cabs are scheduled to switch entirely to new energy by 2018.

Famed for its excellent air quality, the city recorded 356 blue-sky days last year. However, explosive growth of the number of vehicles has aroused environmental concerns. Today, Lhasa has more than 150,000 vehicles -- one for six people -- and about half of Tibet's total. Endi