Hong Kong could boost subsidy scheme for electric vehicle charging facilities at private residential buildings, environment minister says

Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing says pilot scheme, launched in October 2020, has received 560 applications for more than 115,000 parking spaces

‘Overwhelming response’ was nearly double the government’s original target of about 60,000 parking spaces

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An electric vehicle charging station in Causeway Bay. The pilot scheme to subsidise the installation of parking spaces outfitted with chargers was launched in October 2020. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 6:29pm, 16 Feb 2022Updated: 6:45pm, 16 Feb 2022

Hong Kong may inject more resources into a HK$2 billion (US$1.7 million) subsidy scheme for upgrading electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities at private residential buildings following an “overwhelming response” from applicants, the environment minister has said.

In a written reply to the Legislative Council on Wednesday, Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing said the pilot scheme to subsidise the installation of parking spaces outfitted with chargers was well received, and had attracted 560 applications covering more than 115,000 parking spaces since its launch in October 2020.

The figures were almost double the government’s original target of about 60,000 parking spaces, with the amount of subsidies involved already exceeding HK$2.7 billion.

A charging point for electric vehicles at a car park in Central. Photo: Dickson Lee

Given the overwhelming response and stakeholders’ calls for more funding, Wong indicated the government might further boost the scheme with more resources.

“In view of the above-mentioned overwhelming response … the government is reviewing the implementation of the scheme and the potential for devoting more resources to help more eligible private residential buildings and estates install EV charging-enabling infrastructure,” he said.

The pilot scheme, announced in the 2019 policy address as a way to promote the use of electric zero-emission private cars, was originally expected to cover about 60,000 parking spaces in private housing estates by next year.

“Offering financial incentives and facilitating the establishment and enhancement of the EV charging network are the major initiatives taken by the government to promote the use of electric private cars,” Wong said.

The government would either subsidise the total cost of the installation works, subject to a HK$15 million funding ceiling for each private residential development, or hand out a subsidy of HK$30,000 per approved private parking space.