Shanghai's first group of hybrid electric buses will hit the streets this year as part of the city's commitment to the development of "green" vehicles.

Bidding will take place next month for six vehicles powered by a combination of electricity and hydrogen fuel cells, officials attending a news conference held yesterday to track the city's progress on the environmental front said yesterday.

In addition, more than 500 "green" vehicles are expected to transport visitors during the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai to realize the goal of near-zero emissions, experts told the conference, organized by the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission.

Also yesterday, officials from the United Nations and its 22 agencies broke ground on a 3,000-square-meter pavilion that will house an exhibition themed "One Earth, One UN" at the Shanghai World Expo site.

The UN plans to showcase the organization's activities and its agencies' best practices in promoting world peace and development, as well as the challenges and opportunities of urbanization.

"The benefits of economic globalization are not enjoyed by all," noted Anna Tibaijuka, a UN under-secretary-general.

The pavilion will tie in with the Expo's theme, "Better City, Better Life."

Improving the environment in cities such as Shanghai is among the chief issues to be addressed at the World Expo as was evidenced at yesterday's science and technology news conference.

Yu Zhuoping, vice president of the Society of Automotive Engineering Shanghai, said the new buses are part of the city's plan to develop 100 new vehicles, including taxis, buses and private autos that are powered by electricity or fuel-cell hybrid, which uses a combination of hydrogen and oxygen to generate power.

"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 20, 2008)