Hong Kong's transport chief announced plans to install more chargers compatible with Chinese electric vehicles after nearly 100 Guangdong cars entered the city on the first day of a new travel scheme. A mainland Chinese driver described the drive from Zhuhai to Hong Kong as 'an absolute joy with just one bump on the accelerator'.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mable Chan, said on Tuesday that nearly 100 mainland Chinese cars entered the city on the first day of the “Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (Entry into Urban Area)” scheme, almost reaching the daily quota. She added that the government would monitor if more cars would arrive during the three-day New Year holiday for mainlanders.
“Over the past few months, we have worked closely with shopping centres, hotels and even the Transport Department’s car park to speed up the installation of charging facilities,” Chan said.
She noted that Hong Kong currently has about 900 charging stations, 40 of which use the GB/T standard compatible with mainland vehicles, while the rest use the CCS2 or Type 2 standards commonly adopted in Europe.
The scheme allows Guangdong vehicles to enter Hong Kong's urban areas via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. A mainland Chinese driver shared on the first day: “It is an absolute joy to drive straight from Zhuhai to Hong Kong with just one bump on the accelerator.”
The government plans to add more GB/T-compatible chargers to accommodate the influx of Chinese electric vehicles and facilitate cross-border travel.