Hong Kong plugs into an electric driving experience

Powered by an electric motor, electric cars or EVs as they are commonly referred to, not only tend to be more eco-friendly than their fossil-fuel burning cousins, many of them feature the latest technology and futuristic designs.

Offering an almost silent driving experience, EVs are surprisingly quick off the mark, and for good reason. As soon as the accelerator pedal is depressed, battery power is instantly converted into torque. Top-end, ''big battery'' capacity models can accelerate from zero to 100 miles per hour at a speed that comes close to matching a racing car. In any performance category, electrically powered vehicles receive the thumbs-up from Hong Kong's clean transportation supporters who say the mode of transport provides a meaningful step towards solving Hong Kong's pollution problems.

While internal combustion engine-powered cars remain the top sellers in Hong Kong, automobile manufacturers are attracting consumer attention as they rollout a new generation of electric vehicles in a range of sizes, styles, price-points and power range to suit a wide range of consumers. Electric powered vehicles open up a new world of "smart" possibilities, by employing sensor systems which allows blind spot warning, collision avoidance, traffic routing, and remote management of the vehicle.

Currently, the number of EVs purring around Hong Kong roads is nudging towards 2000, up from less than 100 at the end of 2010. At present, 38 models from seven countries have been type-approved by the Hong Kong Transport Department.  But just like the rise of the laptop, the smartphone and the tablet, EV supporters believe when they take off, growth will occur exponentially.

To encourage the adoption of plug-in cars, the financial secretary has extended the first-registration tax waivers for EVs until 2017.  Importantly, to reduce the risk of '' range anxiety'', or the fear of running out of power, more than 1,100 battery chargers have been installed for public use located in various types of buildings across Hong Kong's 18 districts.  With a single charge driving range between 130 and 500 kilometers, drivers should never be more than about 20 kilometers from a charging facility. In addition, EV owners usually have their own charging units installed at home or in a garage.