HK to increase EV charging stations to 1,000 by June

Hong Kong (CNS) -- The Hong Kong SAR government is continuing to promote electric vehicles (EVs) in the region with better facilities and more advanced technology, said Financial Secretary Tsang Chun-wah at the launch ceremony of a charging station project held Thursday at the Star Ferry Pier in Central.

The installation of 500 EV charging machines will be finished by the end of June, at which time about 1,000 charging spots will be scattered across the 18 districts of the region. All neighboring stations will be no further than 20 km from each other.

The number of local EVs has rapidly grown from only 16 at the end of 2009 to more than 310 in late April.

Hong Kong now has 33 EVs for use by 13 government departments, with 42 more to be added. The government is also planning to purchase 140 more this fiscal year.

A tax exempt policy on first vehicle registrations has been adopted to encourage the wider use of EVs in the region. A preferential profits tax cut is also given to corporate EV buyers.

Three EV models – the i-MiEV of Mitsubishi, the Japanese-made Nissan LEAF and Renault's Fluence Z.E. – staged the ceremony.

The government also is using allocated funds of 180 million Hong Kong dollars from the legislative council to buy 36 electric buses, which are expected to go into trial use in early 2014.