Chinese electric buses zoom into Paris, world

Ma Jiabo, regional manager of the Europe division of Yutong Bus, said the company has pioneered the development of battery electric buses since 1997 and had sold over 180,000 such vehicles worldwide till the end of last year. This has not only advanced transport solutions, but also contributed significantly to economic and social welfare.

The company sold 36,518 units in 2023 alone, up 20.93 percent from the previous year.

In terms of global expansion, Yutong delivered 800 buses to Uzbekistan, 214 electric buses to Chile, 250 electric buses to Greece, and 126 new energy buses to Denmark.

In Kazakhstan, the Yutong E12 electric bus, which has been in operation for three years and has traveled more than 200,000 kilometers, is still able to travel an extreme range of 320 km from fully charged to zero, with virtually no degradation in range.

The cumulative mileage of the EVs it has sold has exceeded 37.8 billion kilometers, which reduces carbon emissions equivalent to planting 120,000 hectares of forest, highlighting Yutong's significant contribution to the global fight against climate change.

Wei Wei, an assistant professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), said that EVs have been playing a key role in ensuring energy security and achieving the country's dual-carbon goals.

"China's NEV industry has been continuously offering affordable, high-quality capacity, which will make a significant contribution to global green development," she said.

"China has really been at the forefront of success in conversion of all vehicles to electric vehicles, especially buses," said Heather Thompson, CEO of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, a nonprofit organization focusing on sustainable transport solutions, in an interview with the BBC.