A new energy bus pulls into a bus stop in Baotou city. [Photo/Baotou news network]

The Baotou Public Transport Group has actively explored ways to go green and achieve a low-carbon transformation in recent years – by widely using new energy green buses in Baotou city, located in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

As early as 2004-2006, the group is said to have used buses consuming natural gas after updating its fleet.

What's more, from 2015 the group introduced 460 pure electric and hybrid electric buses with low energy consumption and high comfort. In the first half of 2016, the buses reduced carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 22,908 metric tons, nitrogen oxides by 7,363 kg, and sulfur dioxide by 1,753 kg.

Nowadays, the group has 776 new energy vehicles, accounting for 62.7 percent of its total fleet.

In addition, it has expanded the coverage and service scope of its bus routes by opening new lines, renovating others and bringing in such innovations as real-time bus location inquiries, mobile payments and other advances. The result is that the average satisfaction level of passengers with Baotou buses reached 94.87 percent, according to the latest figures.

Some residents are said to have recently begun giving up driving their private cars and switched to taking buses. One is a Mr Chen, a local who lives in Donghe district but who goes to work in Qingshan district.

He used to drive a private car but now takes the No 5 bus every day. He said the current way of getting around is both economical and environmentally friendly.