Products to protect the environment

Road sweeper

An environmentally-friendly manually-operated road sweeper (pictured left) has been produced for use with a small thermal garbage processor that treats the collected trash, leaving only 3% of the original waste as residue. 

The manufacturer, Guangzhou Jingke Electric Appliances Co Ltd, claims to sell 30,000 units of the road sweepers every year at 7,490 yuan (US$1,188) each. It is mainly bought by local governments in the US, Japan, Middle East and Malaysia, among other countries. 

Solar air-con for buses

The rooftop PV panel is reflected in the mirror (photo credit: GPA Photo)

About 15 taxis and shuttle buses in Hong Kong are now equipped with solar panels on their roofs to cut fuel consumption by up to 30%. Developed by GPI Macau Ltd, the system uses solar power to run the vehicles’ air-conditioning. When the engine no longer powers the air-conditioner, less fuel is used.

A company official says the solar panel and air-conditioner system can last 20 years and the payback period depends on factors like fuel prices. “Some companies took two to three years to achieve payback,” he says, adding that Macau will soon see some buses using their system. 

“We have been in the market since 2009, and our product has to pass several regulations for safety and others. We manufacture the whole system, and we have patented it around the world, especially China.”

RCI Laundry Pure

(photo credit: GPA Photo)

This is a NASA technology that injects hydrogen peroxide into the water that feeds the washing machine, removing the need to use detergents. The hydrogen peroxide kills germs and helps remove dirt from clothes.

The “super” water can also be used to clean things like counter tops. And best of all, it is anti-dust. Also the water that is released to public drains from the washing machine does not harm the environment.

This product has been launched in Thailand by Jia Green Co Ltd. Each unit sells for HK$10,300.

Air-powered buggy

This 300 kg tank packs 65 litres of compressed air to run the buggy for 50 km (photo credit: GPA Photo)

A Macau company has come up with a prototype of an air-powered car that is now being exhibited at roadshows. The engine was developed by Ao Lung Electric Machinery Development Co Ltd after five years of research. 

The vehicle on display at the recent Macau International Environmental Cooperation Forum (MIECF) was a simple buggy with a big cylindrical air tank at the rear. An official says the tank weighs 300 kg and packs 65 litres of compressed air. The car can travel up to 50 km on a full tank. Refilling will take only five minutes. 

Because of its low travel range, the car has limited use for long-distance travel unless there is a network of air pump kiosks. The company is now working on this with the Macau government. Although price has yet to be fixed, the buggy is estimated to cost about HK$30,000 (US$3,865). 

An official says they are now concentrating on smaller markets, and did not discount the possibility of developing sedan cars. 

“The electric vehicle has to change battery every few years. Our car just needs air, and is less of a burden on the environment. As for safety, we are working with car manufacturers on exterior design. 

General manager Xu HongYan told a magazine late last year that they would be able to come up with a sample car that uses petrol and air, and another, purely air.

The company is expected to achieve full production in five to six years.

The concept of an air-powered vehicle is not new. Tata Motors of India reportedly plans to release a six-seater MiniCat Air Car in August this year. As the compressed air is released, it expands, which provides the power. The temperature of the clean air expelled by the “exhaust pipe” is between 0 and -15 degrees Celsius and it can be used to air-condition the car.