Hong Kong is stepping up its efforts to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuel-powered and hybrid vehicles. According to the South China Morning Post, the government has raised its target for the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in government buildings to 7,000 before 2025. This comes after a previous target of 5,000 station installations was met last year, with 5,300 EV chargers installed by September 2022.
To further reduce emissions, Hong Kong's government is also introducing a range of other measures. These include trials for at least 180 electric commercial vehicles, testing electric ferries by 2024, and introducing approximately 700 electric buses and 3,000 electric taxis by 2027. All new government buildings will also have EV chargers installed as standard, and the government is currently trialling hydrogen fuel cell buses and heavy vehicles.
These measures are part of Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan, which aims to halve the region's carbon emissions by 2035 from 2005 levels, and eventually reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The transport sector is a significant source of air pollution in Hong Kong, with motor vehicle exhaust emissions being the primary cause of roadside air pollution.
Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, announced last year that the government would stop registering new fossil fuel and hybrid private cars by 2035 or earlier. In addition, tax breaks were introduced in 2018 for EV users, incentivising consumers and companies to switch to low-carbon transport. As a result, more than half of newly registered private cars in Hong Kong in 2022 were EVs, totalling 19,795 vehicles.
Elsewhere, electric and zero-emissions ferries are also being trialled. Shell recently launched its first electric ferry at its Singapore petrochemicals refinery to comply with the city-state's new harbour craft emissions rules, while in San Francisco, the first zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell ferry began trials last month.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Tse Chin-wan, said: “We will continue to devote resources to promote trials and adoption of various electric modes of transport, including buses, light buses, taxis, goods vehicles, and ferries.” With its ambitious targets and range of measures, Hong Kong is demonstrating its commitment to reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality in the region.
