A new energy bus runs in front of Potala Palace in Lhasa, capital city of Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, March 12, 2018. [Photo by Daqiong/chinadaily.com.cn]

Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet autonomous region, has put into use 128 gas-electric hybrid buses since the beginning of this year, increasing the total number of new energy buses to 312 in an effort to develop a clean energy transportation system, Xinhua News Agency reported.

New energy buses not only help reduce the difficulty of transportation, but also help protect the blue sky and clear water of Lhasa, the city's public transportation operator was quoted as saying.

Passengers depart a new energy bus in Lhasa, capital city of Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, March 12, 2018. [Photo by Daqiong/chinadaily.com.cn]

Lhasa has been stepping up its efforts in providing green public transportation since 2015. Apart from the buses, Lhasa government also collaborated with Ofo since last May to provide 3,600 sharing bikes in the urban area. Also, 192 gas-electric hybrid taxicabs marked with the logo of "new energy" came into service in 2017.

"In 2018, Lhasa will invest more in new energy buses. By the end of this year, new energy buses are projected to take up 80 percent of all buses," said Cao Zhiming, chairman of board of Lhasa Communications Industry Group Co Ltd.

Qiu Weiyi contributed to this story.