Smart meters for e-payments are coming aboard taxis soon

Some 100 electric taxis will install the first government-certified smart taxi meter next month, allowing passengers to pay fares with most e-payment methods.

The new meter was jointly developed by CabCab - a brand under local taxi operator Mobile Shop - and Hong Kong Productivity Council's Automotive Platforms and Application Systems R&D center.

The meter will provide electronic receipts functions, support e-payments and voice-reminders in multiple languages, including Cantonese, English and Putonghua.

The meter will also be free from human mistakes in calculating fares and so will not overcharge, said CabCab chief executive Sam Hui Kin-sang.

Currently, taxi drivers need to add fees - such as tunnel and bridge tolls - to fares by themselves but Hui said the smart meter will automatically do the calculation and read out the amount. The whole process will only take two to three seconds, which will save everybody time.

Brand managing director Wong Yu-ting, who chairs the Hong Kong Tele-call Taxi Association, said the use of the smart meter will transform the business ecosystem of the industry and better meet the needs of tourists.

The device will open access to more than 20 different payment platforms, Wong said, including Visa, Octopus, PayMe and AlipayHK. It will also allow customers to pay with overseas e-wallets.

"Mainland tourists comprise over half of the visitors coming to Hong Kong after the border reopening and they have a strong demand for e-payment," Wong said.

"E-payments can also avoid problems of currency exchange when tourists are not carrying enough cash in Hong Kong dollars."

Chief executive of the Automotive Platforms and Application Systems, Lawrence Cheung Chi-chong, said the smart meter will collect and analyze data from taxis, so as to better inform drivers which areas need them more.

"As one of the primary means of public transportation, taxis plays a crucial role in promoting the development of smart mobility in Hong Kong," Cheung said.

Transport sector lawmaker Frankie Yick Chi-ming said the industry should speed up digital transformation as he has been receiving many complaints about bad experiences when taking taxis.

CabCab will pilot the meter on 100 BYD electronic taxis next month and launch the e-payment function between April and June - aiming to have 1,000 taxis with smart meters by the third quarter.

There will be no service charge during the trial but customers may have to pay the charge after the smart meters are officially put in use.

The company will also cooperate with EFT Solutions, a local e-payment company, to launch a taxi hailing app by the end of this year.

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com