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All new cars in Hong Kong could be electric by 2030, five years ahead of schedule, environment official says

  • There were nearly 25,000 electric passenger cars on Hong Kong’s roads in October, compared to just 180 in 2010
  • The government is stepping up policy support to push the adoption of emission-free vehicles, including subsidies for EV purchases and charging infrastructure

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EVs accounted for 30 per cent of newly registered cars in October, up from 12 per cent last year and 6 per cent in 2019. Photo: Nora Tam
Eric Ng
All new cars in Hong Kong could be electric by as early as 2030 – five years ahead of the government’s target - given their accelerating penetration globally, according to a senior environment official.
The government is stepping up policy support to lift the take-up of emission-free vehicles, including subsidies for electric car purchases and private charging infrastructure, said Owin Fung Ho-yin, deputy director of the Environment Protection Department.

“When we set the target early this year, we had already noticed many countries have been pushing their ambitions higher,” he said. “It is highly likely we will meet the 2035 goal sooner, and personally, I believe 2032 is doable and even 2030 is not impossible.”

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He was speaking at an electric vehicle (EV) forum on Tuesday organised by his department, the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association and Sinopec (Hong Kong).

In March the Environment Bureau unveiled a roadmap for the popularisation of EVs, under which the registration of petrol cars - including hybrids - will not be accepted by 2035.

There were nearly 25,000 electric passenger cars on Hong Kong’s roads in October, making up 3.8 per cent of the total fleet. That compared to just 180 in 2010.

EVs accounted for 30 per cent of newly registered cars in October, up from 21 per cent for the first ten months of 2021, 12 per cent last year and 6 per cent in 2019. Fung expects the ratio to rise to 50 per cent by 2025.

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