21st April 2023 – (Hong Kong) To encourage the public to switch to electric vehicles, the government currently does not charge for the use of charging services in government parking lots. However, Dr Kenneth K.M. Leung, Principal Assistant Secretary (Air Policy). Environment and Ecology Bureau, announced that the government plans to gradually start charging electric vehicle charging fees in government parking lots starting in the second half of this year. They also anticipate that within five years, about 210,000 private car charging spaces will be available in residential parking lots across Hong Kong.
Leung explained that the purpose of charging electric vehicle fees is to encourage the marketisation of charging services, which will motivate more private parking lot operators to install chargers in public parking lots and provide charging services for a fee. Currently, there are approximately 50,000 privately-owned electric vehicles in Hong Kong, which mainly rely on private charging networks. The government hopes that with the additional charging spaces in residential parking lots, these vehicles will have more convenient access to charging stations.
Leung also mentioned that large electric tour buses and heavy-duty vehicles will rely on charging facilities provided by their manufacturers. The government is also exploring the installation of charging facilities at parking meters, bus company parking lots, and transportation hubs, and hopes to increase the number of fast charging systems across Hong Kong.