In an effort to promote the wider use of electric vehicles (EV) and help improve roadside air quality in Hong Kong, a special advisory service was launched by HK Electric today that would facilitate the setting up of EV charging facilities at private buildings.
At the same time, the promotion period for free charging services at various HK Electric EV charging stations has been further extended to the end of 2016, allowing more EV motorists to enjoy the convenient and easy charging for free.
The "Drive EV Charge Easy" service was launched at a seminar today where representatives from incorporated owners, management companies and EV charging contractors shared their experiences on installing charging facilities at residential buildings. Major EV manufacturers also showcased their latest EV models.
In his welcoming remarks, Managing Director of HK Electric, Mr. Wan Chi-tin, said that the rapid development of EV technology and the growing number of EVs called for a greater need for charging facilities.
"In considering whether charging facilities should be installed, property owners may be concerned about a number of factors, such as the availability of space for installation of EV chargers, adequacy of power capacity at their premises and sufficiency of information on charging models," he noted.
"With our 'Drive EV Charge Easy' service, we will provide customers with an all-round technical advisory and support service that would facilitate the installation of EV charging facilities within their buildings," he added.
The new service covers three areas - technical advice, site meetings and visits to charging facilities. HK Electric has introduced a series of "two-day" pledges including arranging for site meeting appointments for technical advice after receiving enquiries; confirming supply availability and capacity; assessing application to install check meters/timers for calculating electricity consumption; and arrange installation inspection and connecting supply on the same day after satisfactory inspection - all within two days.
Officiating at the seminar, Permanent Secretary for the Environment / Director of Environmental Protection, Ms. Anissa Wong, noted that a comprehensive charging network was essential to promoting the wider use of EVs. The Government has been working in conjunction with the private sector to expand the network and encourage car park companies to install EV charging facilities.
She was happy to see that the seminar allowed participants to exchange information and ideas through the sharing of successful cases. More incorporated owners and management companies would be encouraged to set up their EV charging facilities under the support and assistance from the Government and other related organisations.
The seminar was attended by around 200 participants from incorporated owners, management companies, housing developments and other stakeholders covering more than 400 buildings and 60,000 residential units on Hong Kong Island.
Estoril Court in Central is one of the first estates to have set up charging facilities. Mr. Alexander Ng, Estate Manager of Estoril Court, explained that thanks to the advice and assistance from HK Electric, they could identify the energy consumption pattern of the building and ensure that supply would meet the charging requirements. Estoril Court is installing EV charging facilities in three phases, with the aim of allowing all 240 residents there to be able to enjoy charging service.
Mr. Laurence Chan, the founding president of an EV charging contractor "EV Power Group" , said their company could provide tailor-made EV charging solutions to incorporated owners to avoid initial capital costs in setting up charging facilities, after which individual EV owners could select their own charging service plan. He commended HK Electric for its support, which had helped them improve their efficiency and services.
In announcing the decision to extend free charging service at HK Electric's EV charging stations, Mr. Wan noted that the company has commissioned six standard charging stations and four quick charging stations across Hong Kong Island. Recently the quick charging station at Ap Lei Chau has also been upgraded, allowing charging for more EV models including those from Europe, US, Japan and Korea.
In fact, HK Electric has been deploying EVs since the 1980s and currently has 61 EVs including saloon cars, 16-seat minibuses, vans and motorcycles, accounting for over 20% of its operating fleet. EVs will be considered first as replacement whenever vehicles are facing retirement. The company's EV fleet is expected to reach around 100 by the end of this year making HK Electric one of the companies with the largest EV fleet in Hong Kong.