First solar powered public bus operates in Tibet

This photo taken on Nov 23, 2015 shows the solar bus in Lhasa, capital of Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region. The first solar powered bus in Tibet was put in operation recently. [Photo/Xinhua]

A brand new solar powered bus, which looks just like an ordinary public bus to the naked eye, officially hit the road of Lhasa, the capital city of the Tibet autonomous region in November.

"Compared to the oil powered buses, the biggest distinction is that the roof of the new bus is comprised of photovoltaic (PV) panels totaling about 20 square meters," said China Tibet Online, citing one employee from the local bus company. "Through the PV panels, electricity is converted from solar power, to support the engine of the bus."

Drivers can monitor the charging status on the dashboard located at the driver's cab at any time.

According to the report, technicians estimate that as long as there is enough sunshine, it is not necessary for the bus to be charged, whether it is parked or in motion. The effectiveness of charging is determined by how intense the sunlight is and to what extent the bus is exposed to the sun.

"As Lhasa enters the winter season, sun exposure will be reduced, sunlight intensity will weaken. That is, simply relying on solar power will not be enough, therefore we can switch to power charging mode to ensure smooth operations," the employee said.