SOFIA - A batch of 20 electric buses made by a Chinese company was put into commercial operation here on Wednesday, paving the way for the use of this type of vehicles in Bulgaria's public transport.

Sofia selected the e-buses made by China's Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co after in recent years the city has tested several different technologies, Jordanka Fandakova, Mayor of Sofia Municipality, said at the launching ceremony.

These are the first electric buses serving regular public transport lines in Sofia and in Bulgaria, Fandakova said, adding that the Chinese vehicles were comfortable.

The modernization of public transport was Sofia's top priority in recent years, and would contribute to improving air quality, she said.

Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Haizhou said at the ceremony that these e-buses would enhance the quality of Sofia's public transport and at the same time bring a whole new experience with more security, efficiency and zero emissions.

Environmental protection was one of the important areas of China-Bulgaria bilateral practical cooperation, and the launch of these 20 vehicles was the first step in the large-scale commercial cooperation with pure electric buses, Zhang said.

Yutong has developed a special service plan to ensure the normal operation of the bus fleet and better serve the people of Sofia, said Franco Miniero, Yutong Managing Director for Europe and North America.

The company's products are well known and highly appreciated in Sofia, after in 2016, a batch of 110 Yutong diesel buses was introduced to the Bulgarian capital city's public transport system.