Chile's capital Santiago on Wednesday unveiled its first Chinese-made electric bus as part of a campaign to make the city more environmentally friendly.

The fully electric vehicle, manufactured by Chinese company BYD, will operate free of charge in the city's downtown area starting Thursday, offering residents and tourists alike a clean and quiet mode of transport, La Tercera daily reported.

"This bus shows that these kinds of technologies can be commonly used in our city," Santiago Mayor Carolina Toha said during the presentation ceremony, adding "we want to gradually replace the old buses that are more polluting and noisier."

While electric vehicles imply a greater initial cost, "their operation is much cheaper," due to the savings on fuel, and they are more environmentally sound, Toha said.

The buses will help develop "a more pleasant and friendly city," said the mayor.

BYD's K9 is one of the world's best-selling electric buses, with some 5,000 in circulation in Asia, Europe and the Americas, according to the daily.

The bus, which can run for 250 km on a single charge, is part of Santiago's Green Zone initiative, which also includes building bike lanes in the downtown area and developing a city bike-sharing program.

source:XINHUA