Promotion of Electric Vehicles in Hong Kong

Background

Electric vehicles (EVs) have no tailpipe emissions. Replacing conventional vehicles with EVs can help improve roadside air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A wider use of EVs also contributes to the development of environmental industries.

The Finance Secretary chairs a Steering Committee on the Promotion of EVs with members drawn from various sectors to recommend a strategy complementary with specific measures to promote the use of electric vehicles in Hong Kong, having regard to the resulting energy efficiency, environmental benefits and the creation of business opportunities.

Government’s Measures to Promote the Use of
Electric Vehicles

The Government has been promoting the use of EVs by the following measures:

1. Offering first registration tax (FRT) concessions for EVs. FRT on electric commercial vehicles (including goods vehicles, buses, light buses, taxis, and special purpose vehicles), electric motor cycles and electric motor tricycles will be fully waived. For electric private cars, the concession arrangement is as follows:
   1. except for eligible private car owners (see ii. below), FRT for electric private cars will be waived up to $97,500.
   2. private car owners who arrange to scrap and de-register their own eligible old private car (private car with an internal combustion engine or electric private car) and then first register a new electric private car can enjoy a higher FRT concession up to $250,000 under the “One-for-One Replacement” Scheme.

The deadline for the above concession arrangement is 31 March 2024.

2. Enterprises which procure EVs are allowed 100% profits tax deduction for the capital expenditure on EVs in the first year of procurement.
3. A New Energy Transport Fund (previously named Pilot Green Transport Fund) has been put in place since March 2011 to encourage the transport sectors and charitable / non-profit-making organizations to try out and widely use green innovative and low carbon transport technologies (including electric commercial vehicles).

4. The Government allocated $180 million for franchised bus companies to purchase 36 single-deck electric buses, include 28 battery-electric buses and 8 supercapacitor buses, for trial runs to assess their operational efficiency and performance under the local conditions. 26 battery-electric buses and 7 supercapacitor buses have commenced operation. The remaining electric buses are expected to be put into service progressively in late 2020 / early 2021.

5. The Chief Executive announced in the 2019 Policy Address that the Government would prepare for a $2 billion pilot subsidy scheme to promote installation of electric vehicle charging-enabling infrastructure ("EVCEI") in car parks of existing private residential buildings. The pilot subsidy scheme, namely the “EV-charging at Home Subsidy Scheme” (“EHSS”), is to help car parks of existing private residential buildings with multiple ownership resolve technical and financial difficulties that are encountered frequently when retrofitting EVCEI, and further facilitate car park owners to install EV chargers of their choice for charging EVs at home in the future in a simple and easy manner. The EHSS will run for about 3 years with a view to covering roughly 60,000 private parking spaces. Application starts from 21 October 2020, and owners’ corporations, DMC managers or all owners collectively can submit applications. Processing of applications is on a first-come-first-served basis until the funding is used up.

EV Models in Hong Kong

As at end of September 2020, there are 16 759 EVs for road use, up from less than 100 in end 2010. At present, 129 EV models from 12 economies have been type-approved by the Transport Department. These include 97 models for private cars and motorcycles, 32 models for public transport and commercial vehicles, listed as follows:

For EV models that are available for sale in Hong Kong, please check with vehicle retailers or manufacturers.

Installation of EV Chargers

In general, EV owners should charge their EVs by using charging facilities at their workplace, home or other suitable places.  The public charging network mainly serves as supplementary charging facilities, enabling EVs to top up their batteries to complete their journeys when necessary.  Therefore, potential buyers should consider charging arrangements before buying EVs.

To improve the charging efficiency, EPD have progressively upgraded standard chargers to medium chargers in the past few years (as compared with standard chargers, medium chargers can reduce the charging time by up to 60%).  The two power companies and the commercial sector will also progressively upgrade their existing public standard chargers to medium chargers and install multi-standard quick chargers.  EV suppliers have also been pro-active in adding their EV charging facilities for their EV models at public venues.

With the steady growth in the number of EVs, there are private companies in the market that provide one-stop EV charging service, including installation of charging facilities and provision of charging service, at the EV owners’ car parks.  To facilitate EV owners, some EV charging service providers also provide real-time information on the availability of their public EV chargers and reservation of their EV chargers through mobile Apps.

As at the end of September 2020, there are 3,219 EV chargers for public use including 1,301 medium chargers in Hong Kong, covering all 18 districts in various types of buildings. In addition, there are now 625 quick chargers set up at various districts, such that there is one within around 10 km.

Regarding support to EV users, a hotline (3757 6222) was set up at the Environmental Protection Department to provide information and technical support to interested parties in setting up EV chargers at car parks.  Besides, guidelines have been issued on the arrangements and technical requirements in setting up EV chargers. The two power companies have also launched one-stop services to EV owners who intend to install charging facilities at their parking spaces. This includes site inspection, provision of technical advices, inspection of completed charging installation and connection of the power supply.

Please see below the following information related to charging facilities:

1. Guidelines for Setting-up Standard Charging Facilities for Electric Vehicle at Car Parks
2. Guidelines for individual owners and tenants of car parking spaces for setting up EV chargers
3. Locations of Chargers for Public Access 
4. Technical Guidelines for Electric Vehicle Charging-enabling for Car Parks of New Building Developments
5. Electric Vehicle Charging Facilities of Internal Transport Facilities in Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (issued by Planning Department, see para 7.2.7 to 7.2.11)
6. Technical Guidelines on Charging Facilities for Electric Vehicles (issued by Electrical and Mechanical Services Department)

News and Events

Study Report

Further Information

For further information, please contact us at:

Email: ev@epd.gov.hk

EV Hotline: 3757 6222