KMB rolls out innovative eco-friendly initiatives to reduce over 6,000 tonnes of carbon emissions

The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd. ("KMB") is dedicated to promoting low carbon transport and has introduced four new innovative eco-friendly technologies to reduce carbon emission and fuel consumption. These include wind curtains designed for buses installed at the rear exit to help prevent loss of cooled air in the bus, replacing the existing lighting system with lower-powered LED strips to further conserve energy, looking into adopting green bus body materials and making use of the GreenRoad System to lower fuel consumption of buses and their engine idling time. The initiatives will help lower the carbon emission of KMB’s fleet by over 6,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, practicing green transport.

Tailor-made wind curtains for buses to prevent loss of cooled air

KMB has successfully designed wind curtains for buses after months of studies and tests. The facility is installed at the rear exit of buses and activated when the exit door is opened, creating an airflow to separate the hot air outside and cooled air inside. This helps enhance the passenger’s experience of thermal comfort and reduce the energy wasted due to loss of cooled air. According to the tests conducted, the temperature measured in the area closed to the exit door inside the bus compartment is 4°C lower than the buses without the wind curtains, given that the testing ambient temperature is 32°C.

The wind curtains have been installed in some buses to collect more data. KMB is also further exploring if the system could be powered by the looming thermoelectric system that generates electricity from the waste heat of the engine, improving energy saving.

Over 5,000 tonnes of carbon emissions reduced by using lower-powered LED strips

KMB has also started to retrofit its fleet with lower-powered LED strips, which give a softer and more comfortable travel environment than the existing LED lighting, and is expected to finish within this year. This initiative helps reduce the carbon emissions of our buses by 5,600 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. The existing LED light strips will be reused in bus depots and bus stops for lighting.

Exploring the implementation of natural fiber to make buses lighter and consume less fuel

KMB is exploring replacing the glass fiber used in bus body and compartment parts with natural fiber composite. The new material is mainly composed of linen fiber, with its safeness complying with the international standard. The weight of the natural fiber is lighter than glass fiber by 10%, allowing the bus to weigh 55kg less after adoption and lower the fuel consumption. It is estimated that the total carbon emissions per annum of the 4,000 buses in KMB’s fleet will drop by 1,200 tonnes of carbon emissions.

KMB has also introduced the GreenRoad System. After a year of implementation, the system effectively raised the awareness of green driving among our bus captains and lowered the fuel consumption and engine idling time of buses. The fuel consumption has been reduced by 2.5%, with the engine idling time decreasing by 15.6%.

Eric Cheung, KMB’s Engineer from the Innovation Team, said, “Eco-friendly is an important part of Environment, Social and Governance. Through actively introducing various innovative green initiatives that help save energy, KMB hopes to lower the carbon footprint created from travelling and provides a greener choice of transport to the public. This is also a step forward in reaching the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.”

	The wind curtains installed at the rear exit are tailor-made for buses.
	The wind curtains activate when the exit doors open, creating an airflow that blocks the hot air outside from entering the bus and prevents the loss of cooled air inside the bus.
	The new lower-powered LED light strips give softer lighting that helps reduce carbon emissions and provides a more comfortable environment for passengers.
	The weight of the new natural fiber composite (left) is lighter than that of glass fiber (right), which helps the bus weigh less and lower fuel consumption.