Hong Kong is stepping up its commitment to green transport, as the government pledges to install 7,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in government buildings by 2025. The move is part of a wider strategy to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, as Hong Kong strives to halve its carbon emissions by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050.
In addition to the new EV charging stations, the government will provide additional parking spaces with supporting chargers to encourage the uptake of low-carbon transport. New government buildings will have EV chargers installed as standard, while a range of other environmental measures have also been outlined in the government’s plans. These include trialling hydrogen fuel cell buses and heavy vehicles, testing electric ferries by 2024, and introducing approximately 700 electric buses and 3,000 electric taxis by 2027.
“The transport sector … was the largest air pollution source,” said a spokesperson for the Environment and Ecology Bureau. “The exhaust emissions of motor vehicles are the main cause of roadside air pollution. Promoting the adoption of new energy transport has been one of the major strategies of the government to improve air quality.”
The government’s commitment to green transport is also reflected in its ban on registering new fossil fuel and hybrid private cars by 2035 or earlier, as well as tax breaks introduced in 2018 for EV users. The efforts appear to be paying off, with more than half of newly registered private cars in 2022 being EVs, totalling 19,795 vehicles, according to the South China Morning Post.
Hong Kong is not alone in its push for green transport. In Singapore, Shell has launched its first electric ferry to comply with new emissions rules, while San Francisco has begun trialling the first zero emissions hydrogen fuel cell ferry. As more governments and companies embrace sustainable transport options, the road to a low-carbon future is looking increasingly achievable.
