Auto & Event: Charged Hong Kong 2015 Wrap Up feat. #ChargedHKRally2015

(Original blog entry on Locky's English Playground)

Charged Hong Kong Rally 2015 @HKSTP Photo from SCMP

To combat climate change, we rallied through 2015.

One year ago, before Charged Hong Kong was founded, we organised a rally in the name of Tesla Motors Club Hong Kong and donated the proceeds to Hong Kong Shark Foundation. We had about 14 Tesla EVs participating. We made new friends and had tonnes of fun!

One year later, our Tesla Motors Club new friends became founders and members of Hong Kong's very first electric vehicle non-profit non-government organisation (NGO) receiving the charity status in January 2015 in order to promote clean air through EV adapation.

Cyberport replied with great news! Image from Locky's English Playground

Together with the help of friends from around the globe, we brought the lack of EV protection to Cyberport car park management's attention in July. Ever since relevant protection policy had been implemented, Cyberport has become a role model in EV-protection for shopping malls in Hong Kong, one that the Government's car park management ought to follow.

Drive Electric Week  coverage by Car Plus magazine

In September, we organised Hong Kong's first ever Drive Electric Week with great success and have received international coverage as well as coverage from Cathay Pacific's magazine.

Charged Hong Kong were invited to FIA Formula E Hong Kong press conference in October and we Periscoped the event live online. The EV race will be held on 9th Oct 2016.

Later that month, I was invited by South China Morning Post to demonstrate the power of Tesla's new 'Autopilot' in the firmware v7.0 on my Model S which includes a very nice video showing how the new function SHOULD be used properly while following all instructions given in the manual.

The report was on the front page the day after and the world gets to see 'Charged Hong Kong' on paper and the Internet.

The article drew attention from even more media sources and Charged Hong Kong were invited to appear on local television's news program,

and more news article.

Charged Hong Kong Rally 2015 +Hotel ICON Image by Kevin

For the grand finale of the year, to show our support for The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21), we have Charged Hong Kong Rally 2015. With over 60 participants and over 30 Tesla EVs, we began our rally with a fine breakfast gathering at Hotel ICON, 2015 Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice and EV pioneer for hotels in Hong Kong.

We then set off to Hong Kong Science and Technology Park on our Eco-Drive competition, in which the most energy-efficient EV wins. Grand prizes sponsored by RevoZport, Pomponazzi, XiaoMaGe and G. Guard Hong Kong were awarded to lucky draw and competition winners. Our EVs were then on display at the Park where visitors were welcome to ask our owners questions and experience the feeling while sitting inside the EVs.

After lunch, several EVs participated in the optional afternoon drive to Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club for the beautiful sunset and fresh air, thanks to our zero emission EVs.

Our rally has made the news on South China Morning Post, which we hope is the first of many in the years to come. (Missed the event? See all photos here: https://goo.gl/photos/x9gSMTi9zVEV9rjv5)

Last but not least, in December, Charged Hong Kong set up a Public Charging Working Group to specifically to bridge communication between EV owners and policy makers as well as to facilitate the development of charging infrastructure in Hong Kong from the owners' perspective. So far, we have met with LegCo members Hon Kenneth Leung and Hon Tony Tse Wai-chuen. Progress has been good and we are arranging similar meetings in 2016.

This year has been a fruitful year for Charged Hong Kong, it is hoped that we will achieve even more in 2016.

Resources:
Auto & Event: Tesla Rally Hong Kong 2014 & Shark Conservation @Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2015/01/auto-event-tesla-rally-hong-kong-2014.html

Who we are +Charged Hong Kong
http://www.charged.hk/?q=whoweare

Auto & Opinions: Hong Kong's EV Development feat. The Issue of ICE Vehicles Occupying Charging Spots @Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2015/07/auto-opinions-hong-kongs-ev-development.html

Hong Kong parking shock: Two-thirds of public charging outlets in car parks taken up by petrol vehicles @South China Morning Post
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1891706/electric-shock-two-thirds-public-charging-outlet

Drive Electric Week Opens in Hong Kong This Past Weekend @InsideEVs
http://insideevs.com/drive-electric-week-opens-hong-kong-past-weekend/
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2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference +Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_United_Nations_Climate_Change_Conference

Electric cars on the rise in Hong Kong but building management are failing to plug a home-charging gap @South China Morning Post
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1885096/electric-cars-rise-hong-kong-building-management

Hotel ICON
http://www.hotel-icon.com/home.aspx#/our-story

Charged Hong Kong Rally 2015 @Google Photos
https://goo.gl/photos/x9gSMTi9zVEV9rjv5

Can Tesla's new 'autopilot' system work in crowded Hong Kong? We take it for a test drive +YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xiih665-28Q

https://www.facebook.com/chargedhongkong/posts/442820895923596
https://www.facebook.com/chargedhongkong/posts/442816895923996
https://www.facebook.com/chargedhongkong/posts/442358169303202
https://www.facebook.com/chargedhongkong/posts/437769023095450
https://www.facebook.com/chargedhongkong/posts/434761406729545
https://www.facebook.com/chargedhongkong/posts/445893525616333