Corporate customers and individual motorists will be able to enjoy the fun and benefits of driving electric vehicles (EVs) on Hong Kong streets under a leasing scheme and test drive activity to be launched by HK Electric in November.
A total of 10 EVs will be made available for rent by corporate customers on contract terms for an initial 12-month period at a monthly rental of $7,500 for each EV. Invitation letters have been sent to some of the Company's business partners and customer feedback will be reviewed before determining further promotion, said HK Electric Director of Operations, Mr. Yuen Sui-see.
While the scheme is primarily targeted for corporate customers, individual motorists are invited to join in the "EV Test Drive Week" from 8 – 12 November to experience on-road test drive.
All motorists with a valid driving licence are invited to join and registration can be made through calling our hotline at 2814 3598 from 1 November. Test drive will be arranged on first-come-first-serve basis. Companies interested in the leasing scheme are invited to browse the HK Electric website.
"The leasing scheme and test drive activity are introduced to promote the use of EVs in Hong Kong and their environmental benefits – reducing carbon emissions, improving roadside air quality while enhancing public awareness," Mr. Yuen said.
To facilitate the wider use of EVs in Hong Kong, user-friendly charging infrastructure must be in place. HK Electric has recently installed a new EV quick charging station at the Company's ex-operational building at 2 Yi Nga Drive, Apleichau. This is the first EV charging station in Hong Kong to be retrofitted from an old petrol station and enables users to charge up to 80 percent of an EV in just 30 minutes.
The station was commissioned today by HK Electric Managing Director, Mr. Tso Kai-sum. Unlike standard charging facilities using a 13A household socket, the rating of the quick charger is 50kW and DC fast charging technology is applied. The quick charger, compatible for use by various EV models from Japan, is easy to operate and a user guide is on display for motorists' reference.
At present, there are seven other EV charging stations equipped with standard charging facilities located at different car parks across Hong Kong Island, namely, The Peak Galleria, Pacific Place, Cyberport, Cityplaza, Oi Tung Estate, Star Ferry and Tin Hau. EV users can enjoy charging service free of charge and the promotion period has been extended to end December 2011.
Meanwhile, a new stand-alone charging pole, the first of its kind in Hong Kong, has also been put up for trial use. It is jointly developed by HK Electric and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
The charging pole, with its all-in-one design, is considered the easiest to operate and most compact charging facility for use in Hong Kong. HK Electric will consider installing this in car parks and on the roadside if results of the trial use have been satisfactory.
In addition to the 10 EVs under the leasing scheme, the HK Electric green fleet also comprises 10 other 4-seater EVs and an electric motorcycle. Other vehicles will soon be added including two 16-seater electric light buses and three mini auto electric trucks. Earlier, the Company has also converted two hybrid cars to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
In support of the C40 Hong Kong Workshop to be held in early November, HK Electric will be deploying three specially-decorated EVs to ferry conference delegates.
The EVs are printed with designs adopted from winning entries of an EV Decoration Competition held earlier in the year under the Smart Power Campaign. Mr. Tso and Mr. Yuen joined winners of the competition in giving final touches to the EVs before they set off for the C40 Workshop.
These designs made their way to the top from around 20,000 entries. The winning design of the Primary School Category shows a delightful combination of beautiful flowers and butterflies while that of the Secondary School Category features a green earth. In the Family Category, the top entry features a cute electric plug in orange, showing the vehicle's vitality and energy.