Charging launched - and it's free, for now
Free charging services for electric vehicles will be provided by CLP Power until the end of next year.
The first two charging stations were unveiled at The Link's Lung Cheung Plaza car park in Wong Tai Sin and Wilson Parking's Fu Shing Building car park in Yuen Long yesterday.
In the first phase of CLP's charging network installation plan, 21 stations will be set up by the end of this year. Five are in car parks managed by The Link and seven in car parks managed by Wilson Parking.
Both The Link and Wilson Parking are also offering owners of electric vehicles free parking at car parks where charging kiosks have been installed until the end of next year.
Although he was unable to forecast the number of electric vehicles that would be on the road, Nicholas Sallnow-Smith, chairman of The Link Management, said that it was important to have the infrastructure in place in order to introduce green driving to Hong Kong.
Richard Lancaster, acting managing director of CLP Power, said he expected more charging units would be set up throughout next year.
The 21 charging stations will provide charging for about 60 parking spaces. Each charging station can be expanded to charge up to 128 vehicles. All such spaces have green signs to direct drivers.
The vehicle is first parked in a designated space. The driver plugs the vehicle's charging cord into the socket, then selects the number of the parking space and charge duration at the kiosk.
The idea is that vehicles can be charged while drivers shop or dine.
Kiosks will accept Octopus.
The proposed cost after next year is HK$6 for two hours, enough for 25 kilometres of travel, equal to a round trip from Kowloon Tong to Tseung Kwan O.
Environmental benefits aside, electric vehicles are also more economical compared to petrol cars. CLP Power estimated that electric vehicles would be 70 per cent cheaper in terms of energy costs. On daily travel of 50 kilometres, the estimated annual saving is HK$8,033.
CLP Power's website will provide updates on the expanding network.
