The Hong Kong SAR government recently announced the Green Transformation Roadmap of Public Buses and Taxis, revealing plans to fund franchised bus operators to purchase 600 electric buses and to support the taxi industry in acquiring 3,000 electric taxis, with a total investment of around HK$600 million.
Some LegCo members have questioned why the government, facing annual fiscal deficits of billions, is funding the transformation of bus companies. In response, the Secretary for the Environment and Ecology, Tse Chin-wan, explained yesterday (Dec. 14) that the funding not only prevents franchised bus operators from passing costs onto citizens but also promotes technological development and the establishment and expansion of markets to seize opportunities for a new economy, making it a worthwhile investment.
Tse noted that since electric buses are more expensive than traditional buses, without government support, bus companies would likely transfer costs to the public, increasing their burden.
He emphasized that as an international city, Hong Kong should accelerate its green transformation, which aligns with the country's electric vehicle technology advancements.
The Hong Kong SAR government currently has no plans to provide electricity subsidies for electric taxis. Tse explained that when converting old LPG taxis to electric vehicles, fuel costs have decreased by about 30%. The government is outsourcing the construction of electric vehicle charging stations and may require operators to offer charging discounts to the taxi industry in future agreements.
Even with fast charging, electric taxis require a longer time to complete charging, leading to suggestions to promote battery swapping technology. He believes that with rapid advancements in charging technology, the time difference between battery swapping and charging will diminish in the future.
Related News:
PolyU and CSG sign MoU to support energy development and green transition in GBA
Comment