(BEIJING, April 18) -- There will be 50 lithium-battery-powered buses to serve the Olympic Village and the Media Village during the 2008 Olympic Games, according to vice-general manager of the Beijing Bus Company Feng Xingfu.

In addition, Beijing will purchase 1,150 low-floor buses to meet the Games-time transportation needs, he told the press during a commercial vehicle exposition in Beijing on Wednesday.

The buses are part of a purchase plan involving a total of 2,810 new environment-friendly buses. The low-floor buses include 900 diesel-powered vehicles that meet the Euro-IV emission standard and 250 natural-gas-powered vehicles, Feng said.

The health conditions of athletes, their equipment and other factors were taken into consideration when design schemes for the vehicles were made, and the vehicles will be equipped with the GSP system, he added.

When Beijing bid for the right to hold the Olympic Games, it promised to use a certain number of ultra-low-emission buses and taxis, as well as some zero emission vehicles in specific areas such as the Olympic Village.