Yutong Bus has completed a long-range operational trial of its C12E battery-electric bus in Hong Kong, demonstrating the vehicle’s performance under conditions intended to reflect cross-border bus operations.
The trial was carried out in partnership with Hong Kong operator Wing Lee Group and local industry media outlet HK BUS Channel. The vehicle used was a Hong Kong-specification Yutong C12E equipped with a 422kWh battery pack and already in commercial service for two years.
During the test, the bus travelled 261 kilometres on a route between Tseung Kwan O and Fung Kat Heung, covering both urban roads and motorways. Throughout the journey, air conditioning remained in operation, with temperatures set between 16°C and 18°C while outdoor temperatures ranged from 24°C to 27°C.
The vehicle began the trial with a state of charge (SOC) of 81% and finished with 34%, representing a battery consumption of 47%. The recorded energy consumption was 0.69kWh per kilometre.
Based on the trial data and local operating conditions, Yutong estimates that the 422kWh version of the C12E could achieve a range of between 310 and 360 kilometres under full passenger load with air conditioning running continuously. The calculation assumes operation from 100% SOC down to 12%, in line with local practices that reserve a battery buffer.
This would enable the vehicle to meet the daily mileage requirements of many cross-border bus services operating in Hong Kong.
The C12E is built on Yutong’s YEA platform, which has been developed specifically for battery-electric commercial vehicles. The platform combines hardware and software systems designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce power losses and optimise vehicle performance.
The platform incorporates powertrain, thermal management and energy recovery technologies intended to support long-distance operation while maintaining stable energy consumption across different road conditions.
Yutong’s trial comes as Hong Kong continues to pursue the decarbonisation of its public transport network. Under the Public Bus and Taxi Green Transition Roadmap published by Hong Kong’s Environment and Ecology Bureau, the territory aims to achieve zero vehicle emissions and carbon neutrality by 2050.
