Electric minibus initiative loses steam

The government fell short of the goal to put 40 electric minibuses on the road by 2023 - with only two joining a subsidized trial run last month - according to a report.

A total of HK$80 million was set aside in 2020 to kick start a pilot scheme for electric public light buses involving 40 electric minibuses in 2023 to evaluate their performance and the efficiency of quick-charge facilities.

Subsidized operator Lok Wah Public Light Bus was satisfied with the "significant" savings in fuel.

"The electric minibuses have proved to be effective in operation, reducing our fuel costs from over HK$1,000 a day to less than HK$200," Lok Wah said.

With pilot scheme subsidies, the company was able to buy a HK$1.3 million electric minibus for just HK$300,000.

Currently, the electric vehicles serve route 22M between Kwun Tong Yue Man Square and Lok Wah Estate. A full charge is good for up to 70 kilometers or about two hours of service.

An obstacle preventing the company from switching to a whole electric fleet is the lack of charging stations at convenient locations, with chairman Yeung Wui-wing calling for at least 10 more stations.

Yeung, who operates 19 minibuses, said more operators would be willing to switch to electric if enough charging facilities are available at terminals so that they could charge while waiting.

Operators not participating in the trial were deterred by the higher cost of the electric minibus.

GMB Maxicab Operators General Association chairman So Sai-hung said an electric minibus still costs HK$300,000 after the subsidy, which is about half the price of a new diesel minibus.

So said the discount being limited to one vehicle per operator makes it financially difficult to replace an entire fleet as this would cost "millions of Hong Kong dollars."

So was also concerned about the technology, referring to the expensive cost of replacing batteries. The government could consider importing hydrogen-powered minibuses instead, he said, adding that these may be more suitable for the city.

Lawmaker Chan Siu-hung called for a higher subsidy as he urged the government to install charging facilities along minibus routes.