LCQ19: Development of charging-enabling infrastructure for electric commercial vehicles
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Question:
The Updated Version of the Hong Kong Roadmap on Popularisation of Electric Vehicles, announced by the SAR Government in February 2026, proposed the establishment of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network underpinned by fast chargers. Moreover, given that the Northern Metropolis (NM) will be planned and developed to include a modern logistics cluster and a smart cross-boundary transport and logistics hub, it is learnt that the industry is highly concerned about the planning of charging-enabling infrastructure for electric commercial vehicles (ECVs). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the Government's specific planning and development plans regarding the various measures for developing fast charging facilities for ECVs mentioned in the Updated Version of the Hong Kong Roadmap on Popularisation of Electric Vehicles, including whether it will announce the implementation details and timetable;
(2) whether efforts to popularise EVs in Hong Kong have already begun to cover the light, medium and heavy goods vehicles commonly used by logistics enterprises; how the development of fast charging facilities for ECVs will be integrated with NM's modern logistics cluster and smart cross-boundary transport and logistics hub, so as to align with NM's overall smart city and infrastructure planning; and
(3) of the model to be adopted by the Government to develop public charging facilities for new energy commercial vehicles, including whether it will consider attracting enterprises' investment in the development of relevant facilities through public-private partnership?
Reply:
President,
In order to achieve zero vehicular emissions before 2050, in line with Hong Kong's commitment to strive for carbon neutrality in the same timeframe, the Government has actively promoted the popularisation of electric vehicles (EVs) in recent years, with remarkable results. There are currently over 170 000 EVs in Hong Kong, approximately six times the number in 2021. Of these, more than seven out of every 10 first registered private cars are EVs, the growth rate of which ranks among the top in the world. In terms of charging infrastructure, the number of parking spaces with charging-enabling infrastructure has increased from around 28 000 in 2021 to over 160 000 at present, representing a growth of more than 4.9 times; the number of public chargers has risen from around 4 700 to approximately 16 900, an increase of more than 2.5 times. The overall charging infrastructure is sufficient to support over 240 000 EVs.
In February this year, the Government announced the Updated Version of the Hong Kong Roadmap on Popularisation of Electric Vehicles (the Updated Roadmap), setting out a number of schemes and initiatives to continue promoting the development of EVs. Going forward, we will adopt fast chargers (FCs) as the backbone of our public charging network, with the aim of increasing the number of FCs to 4 000 by 2030 and expecting to reach approximately 10 000 by 2035, capable of supporting around 500 000 EVs, providing greater convenience for private car owners whilst also supporting the popularisation of electric commercial vehicles (e-CVs).
Having consulted the Development Bureau and the Transport and Logistics Bureau, my response to the question raised by the Hon Erik Yim is as follows:
(1) As mentioned in the Updated Roadmap, the Government will continue to adopt a multipronged approach, leverage market forces and build a public charging network with FCs (with a rated output power of at least 100 kilowatts) as the backbone through policy guidance. Key measures include:
(i) implementing the $300 million Fast Charger Incentive Scheme to encourage the private sector to install 3 000 FCs by the end of 2028, to support 160 000 EVs;
(ii) gradually converting petrol filling stations (PFSs) into fast charging stations (FCSs) and retrofitting FCs at existing PFSs, with the aim of providing up to approximately 180 FCs at around 60 existing PFSs progressively from this year onwards, which is expected to be able to support nearly 10 000 EVs. In addition, the Government has identified eight PFS sites across Hong Kong that could be developed into FCSs, which together could provide over 150 chargers, expected to support approximately 8 000 EVs. We have also set out operational requirements for petrol-cum-charging stations and FCSs, including that operators must not charge electric taxis (e-taxis) and electric public light buses (e-PLBs) more than the charging ceiling price published monthly by the Environmental Protection Department, and that operators must reserve a certain number of chargers and parking spaces between 3pm and 6pm each day for e-taxis and e-PLBs to charge, in order to provide convenience to the taxi and PLB trade;
(iii) supporting franchised bus operators (FBOs) to install charging facilities at new or existing bus depots, and already provided policy support to enable FBOs, where appropriate, to open up their EV charging facilities at bus depots and parking areas in various districts to the public during daytime hours. At present, a FBO has opened up approximately 12 FCs at its bus depot in Lai Chi Kok for public use. It is anticipated that FCs at a further 10 bus depots will be made available within 2026 for public use. The Government will continue to support FBOs in opening up more charging facilities at new bus depots;
(iv) launching a $20 million fast charger scheme dedicated for commercial vehicles, to encourage the trade to install FCs with an output power of at least 240 kilowatts. We are currently drafting the framework for the new scheme and, following consultation with relevant stakeholders, will finalise the details and arrangements, including the subsidy amount and the number of chargers. We aim to announce the details of the new scheme by the end of this year; and
(v) installing 50 FCs dedicated for e-taxis by the end of 2027 (capable of supporting approximately 300 e-taxis), of which 12 are already fully operational, with the remaining 38 due to come into operation in stages from the end of this year.
(2) and (3)
Promoting popularisation of electric commercial vehicles
The technology for e-CVs (such as medium and heavy goods vehicles and non-franchised buses) is still evolving. Products of these CV types in the local market are not yet ready for large scale application at this stage due to various reasons, such as purchase costs that are significantly higher than those of diesel vehicles, limited driving range, lower load-carrying capacity and longer charging time. We will adopt a pragmatic approach and, in accordance with the policy directions set out in the Updated Roadmap, gradually promote the adoption of these vehicle types in Hong Kong. For example, we have established a working group in collaboration with the trade to help identify more e-CV models suitable for local use, and, with PLB as a priority, to discuss with car manufacturers the introduction of models suitable for Hong Kong. We will also make reference to the standards in other regions to explore relaxing the maximum gross vehicle weight limit, with a view to introducing more e-CV models that meet operational needs, fostering market competition, driving down prices and providing commercial vehicle owners with a wider range of choices.
As mentioned above, we are developing a public charging network with FCs as the backbone. The Government has established a high-level inter-bureaux/departmental working group to co-ordinate the effort of various bureaux and departments on the development of the charging network, and to provide guidance on the planning of the charging network, difficulties encountered in project implementation, and the piloting of new initiatives, thereby accelerating the electrification of vehicles and the establishment of a comprehensive charging network. In addition to traditional charging methods, we noted that charging service providers in the market also offer diverse charging solutions such as "Megawatt Flash Charge", battery swapping and battery energy storage systems. These solutions are particularly helpful for the rapid charging of e-CVs. We are actively promoting the adoption of these diverse charging solutions in Hong Kong, and are providing policy support and co-ordination for charging service providers wishing to establish a presence here.
Development of green transport in Northern Metropolis
The Northern Metropolis (NM) is a strategic development area for Hong Kong, offering immense economic value and development potential. The NM's infrastructure, various new development areas, and large-scale projects such as the smart green mass transit system and the cross-boundary green logistics hub all provide excellent testing and application scenarios for new energy transport. In line with the development of the NM, the Government is committed to promoting zero-carbon, smart and sustainable mobility through appropriate land-use planning and the provision of corresponding infrastructure and facilities. This includes setting aside land for FCSs and providing EV charging facilities in car parks. The Government is also formulating the Generalised Green Framework for the Planning of New Development Areas to serve as guidance and a reference for various bureaux and departments when planning new development areas, including the NM.
With regard to the development of logistics clusters, during the planning study for the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen Modern Logistics Cluster, the trade highlighted that the construction of commercial vehicle charging facilities would help drive the long-term green transition of the logistics sector and create synergies with the long-term development of the logistics cluster. The Government will invite the industry to submit expressions of interest for the first plot of land within the Hung Shui Kiu Modern Logistics Hub later this year. At the same time, it will invite the industry to provide feedback on the infrastructure required to support future logistics operations within the hub, including green logistics facilities such as charging facilities for commercial vehicles, in order to understand the industry's practical needs and development direction. After considering the trade's feedback, the Government will formulate the terms and development model for the relevant plots to meet the industry’s development needs.
The Government will continue to closely monitor technological developments in the field of green transport, fully capitalise on the development opportunities presented by the NM, promote new energy transport, and achieve a green and low-carbon transition.
Ends/Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:23
Issued at HKT 12:23
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