A 200-strong fleet of electric taxis is set to hit Hong Kong roads by March after an industry body signed a deal with the world’s biggest e-vehicle maker as part of a government-backed drive to introduce 3,000 such cabs in less than four years.
Hong Kong Tele-call Taxi Association chairman Wong Yu-ting, who signed the deal with Shenzhen-based BYD on Wednesday, said the manufacturer was chosen because of the car model’s suitability for Hong Kong and the company’s more than a decade’s experience of cab production.
“We’ll also consider other brands,” he said. “It will depend on the suitability and price. We’re looking to have 3,000 or more electric taxis - the best case scenario will be having multiple makers.”
Wong said the BYD vehicles stood out because of their size and because their boots could fit four large suitcases and two small ones – a capacity previously unavailable in Hong Kong.
The city only had five electric-powered taxis, discounting hybrid models, in April. The figure represents less than 1 per cent of Hong Kong’s taxi fleet.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in his October policy address pledged to bring in 3,000 EV cabs before the end of 2027.
Lawmaker Frankie Yick Chi-ming, who represents the transport sector, said the deal was an industry milestone and that it was a good time for taxis to go electric.
“More than 3,000 of the 18,163 taxis in Hong Kong are now more than 10 years old,” he said. “We could encourage these cab drivers to make the switch.”
The legislator also appealed to the government to offer one-off subsidies to promote the switch to electric, in line with a past effort to convince taxi drivers to change from diesel-powered cars to ones running on liquefied petroleum gas.
Wong said authorities should set up a cross-departmental panel to help speed up the installation of charging stations.
He explained a shortage of recharging points remained the main hurdle for the switch to electric.
Wong said he expected more charging stations in the New Territories first and added that it was difficult to install them in urban areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon because of the lack of space.
He also said the time required to have an electric vehicle fully-charged, which could take from 30 minutes to an hour, was also a barrier.
Wong explained the long wait time, compared with the few minutes it took to fill the fuel tank of a conventional vehicle, could also create congestion.
He also slammed the government for its lacklustre promotion of electric vehicles and added that he had at first expected Hong Kong to field 1,000 e-cabs by this year.
“In June last year, they said they would set up three taxi-only charging stations,” Wong said. “Where are they now?”
The government earlier pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050, with a target of phasing out the sale of petrol-powered cars by 2035.