A total of 55 new energy shuttle buses are put into service in the county-level city of Zhangjiagang, East China's Jiangsu province, last year. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]

Zhangjiagang in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, has been focusing on the development of new energy industries in recent years in an effort to explore a new path of green and low-carbon development, local news reported on March 11.

Official data show that as of the end of 2020, a total of 481 new energy shuttle buses had been put into service, accounting for 60 percent of the city's total, and about 100 new energy shuttle buses will be added to roads this year.

Local authorities said that the construction of supporting facilities for new energy vehicles were underway as well, including fast charging stations.

Enterprises in Zhangjiagang have also increased emphasis on green development. For example, the city's Shagang Group, a Global Fortune 500 company, constructed a photovoltaic power station with an annual power output of 35 million kWh, saving the company 13,000 metric tons of standard coal every year. In addition, liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles were widely used by Yonggang Group in Zhangjiagang, which will reduce major pollutants by 90 percent and save more than 30 percent in operating expenses.

Officials said that in recent years, Zhangjiagang has been supporting the development of new energy industries to facilitate the upgrading of its industrial structure.