Electric cars from HK, Macao now have power access in SZ

MR. Wong, a Hong Kong resident who frequently drives between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, was pleasantly surprised to learn that his electric vehicle (EV), which is registered in Hong Kong, could be conveniently charged in Shenzhen. “Many of the places I often visit now have charging stations suitable for European-standard cars. The issue of battery range has been resolved, allowing me to choose to drive to Shenzhen more often. This is really great!” he said.

He is among the many benefiting from a program launched by the Shenzhen Bus Group, which has opened a batch of EV charging stations that are compatible with the European-standard charging interface used by most EVs in Hong Kong and Macao.

A driver waits for his electric car to be charged. File photo

Official statistics show that since the beginning of the year, the total number of Hong Kong and Macao single-plated vehicles entering the mainland via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has exceeded 2 million.

Drivers of Hong Kong EVs are reminded to download the “充电在手” (“Charging at Hand”) app or use the “充电在手” mini-program on WeChat or Alipay. Nearby charging stations can be found by searching for “欧标” (the European standard).

At the charging station, users are advised to scan the QR code on the charging poles and prepay before charging their vehicles. The fee is automatically settled and any remaining deposits are refunded after charging is complete, which makes the process very simple and convenient, according to the bus group.

At present, the first batch of European-standard charging stations are located in major business districts and places that are popular among Hong Kong people like the MixC World and UpperHills shopping centers and Sam’s Club. The charging stations not only provide charging services, but also feature comfortable rest areas, dining facilities, and free Wi-Fi, allowing vehicle owners to enjoy leisure services while charging.

In addition, Shenzhen is facilitating parking for Hong Kong and Macao single-plated vehicles by upgrading existing commercial parking lots so that the vehicles can be automatically recognized while being parked, according to the city’s transport bureau. By the end of 2023, about 100 parking lots in Shenzhen had been upgraded.

Upgrading of commercial parking lots will be accelerated in areas with a high concentration of Hong Kong and Macao residents and high parking demand such as business districts, transportation hubs, hospitals, and office buildings in Futian and Nanshan districts, according to the bureau.

At the same time, parking lots that have not yet undergone transformation are required to implement manual registration and QR code entry to ensure normal access and payment for Hong Kong and Macao single-licensed vehicles.

Since new policies were implemented in 2023, these vehicles have been allowed to head north into the mainland through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Before the policies, only dual-plate vehicles — those registered both in the mainland and in Hong Kong or Macao — could make cross-border journeys.