More quick boost technology on its way for Hong Kong electric car owners under government plan to power up more charging points
- Lawmakers hear 40 petrol stations have agreed to install 100 quick chargers by March next year
- Government offered preferential terms as incentives for petrol station owners to sign up to install quick charge technology
The government scheme included preferential terms for the extension of land leases for operators, as well as a waiver on land premium costs for lease modifications to cover the quick chargers, lawmakers heard on Monday.
Tse Chin-wan, the environment and ecology secretary, told the environmental affairs panel that the government had written to petrol station operators last November about retrofitting e-car charging facilities on their forecourts.
He said proposals for 98 sites were received.
“In March, the government invited the submission of detailed design proposals covering 60 of the sites, involving over 200 chargers … while the remaining 32 sites are under further analysis and study,” Tse said.
“We expect that a total of about 100 quick chargers will be provided in the first batch of about 40 existing petrol filling stations within the 2024-25 financial year.”
The plan is part of a government campaign to encourage the use of e-cars in a bid to reach a goal to be carbon neutral before 2050.
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There were 8,056 e-vehicle chargers for public use across the city at the end of last month, including 4,662 medium chargers and 1,397 quick chargers.
Lawmakers at the meeting said they were pleased with the progress of the government scheme.
Kwok Wai-keung, of the Federation of Trade Unions, urged the government to also ease the rules to allow coffee shops or bistros to be operated in charging stations.
“Charging the car battery takes some time,” Kwok said. “Maybe there can be small coffee shops or casual restaurants for drivers to take a rest or kill time while waiting.”
Tse said he would consider the proposal.
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He added tenders were also being invited for the conversion of two disused petrol stations, one in Kowloon Bay and the other in Sha Tin, into quick charging stations.
The two projects are expected to provide more than 20 quick chargers between them, the panel heard. The tender process is expected to close in May.
Lawmakers were also briefed on management work at the Robin’s Nest Country Park, which opened last month.
The new country park, which covers 214 hectares (530 acres) in the Sha Tau Kok border area, lies on ridges that stretch from the Shenzhen Wutong Mountain Scenic Area.
Legislators heard the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department was working with its Shenzhen counterpart to draw up a joint plan to boost ecological connectivity between the two beauty spots.
