EV

Charged.HK was conceived almost a year ago. Here is a brief history and current status:

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It was in 1994 that the HK SAR introduced the initial exemption of “First Registration Tax” for electric private vehicles ("EV FRT Exemption"). Ever since, this exemption has been renewed multiple times. Last was March 2014, this time for a period of 3 years, to be reviewed by March 2017.

As EV (Electric Vehicle) technology is finally starting to catch up to fossi-fuel cars, the change is starting to take off - 20 years after the first exemption was passed. In Hong Kong, the group of EV owners is now growing outside of the early-mover stage into where ordinary citizens have started to replace their fossil-fuel cars with and EV.

(No, it's not me in the picture, but my son)

During 2015 Drive Electric week in Hong Kong, I won a BMW i3 for a weekend. This turned out to be 4 days (Thursday to Monday), driving just over 300 km.

My own car is a 2014 right hand drive Tesla Model S (pre-drive assist version). Both of these cars are fully electric - the only way to power them are using a plug (In Hong Kong, the serial hybrid i3 iRex isn’t sold due to registration tax incentives not covering hybrids). We are a family of two adults, as well as a 21 month old boy and 3 month old girl.

TLDR - Conclusion: The i3 is a really nice car. In some ways, the i3 is better, in other ways, the Tesla Model S is better. Both cars are highly recommended - for details, read on.

You can also check out the photo gallery of 55 photos here: http://is.gd/lpl4S2

… as well as a short time lapse video, showing two kids, two car seats and a tandem Sit’n’Stand stroller being loaded in the i3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbYP9he3TrU

My wife is taking the time lapse video so she is not in the video, but will also fit into the car, obviously.

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