【Car Tips】Sharing Experiences with Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Sharing experience on using electric vehicle charging stations in Hong Kong

──Editor's actual test × authentic tips × blood and tears experience──

1. Basic Environment of Charging Stations in Hong Kong

1. Types of charging stations

  • Slow charging (AC) : Generally 3kW to 7kW, commonly found in housing estates, shopping malls, and government car parks, suitable for long-term parking.
  • Medium-speed charging (AC) : about 22kW, available in a few government or private parking lots, and supported by some European cars.
  • Fast charging (DC) : 50kW, 80kW, 120kW and even more than 200kW, mainly located in oil companies, some shopping malls, and Tesla dedicated stations, suitable for charging in a short time.

2. Mainstream charging networks/operators

  • CLP/HK Electric : Most common, government car parks/housing estates/commercial buildings
  • Tesla Superchargers : Dedicated to Tesla vehicles, located throughout Hong Kong
  • SHELL, Sinopec, CLP Pulse, EV Power, AutoCharge, HKeMobility : Private networks, each with different apps/membership systems
  • Private housing estates/shopping malls : Please contact the management office or members only

2. My personal experience using the charging station

1. How to reserve and find a charging station?

  • Mainly search by APP
    • HKeMobility (Official website of the Transport Department, showing real-time information and available seats)
    • PlugShare (internationally available, allowing users to view real-time messages)
    • Apps from major power/charging networks (such as CLP Pulse, EV Power, etc.)

Editor's Tip : Sometimes the app shows "available", but when you arrive, the seat has already been taken by a gasoline truck/someone just cut in. The information in the mobile app is for reference only. It is best to reserve one or two alternative seats.

2. Parking and charging difficulty × actual experience

  • Popular areas (such as Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, Mong Kok)
    • It is extremely difficult to get a spot on holidays or at night. Slow charging stations are often occupied by long-term parked cars, and the waiting time for fast charging can sometimes be half an hour or even longer.
    • Some owners of D vehicles do not take their cars away after charging, or their gasoline cars are "dead parked" in EV spaces, and the administrators enforce the law inconsistently.
  • New Territories/Marginal Areas
    • It is relatively easy to find a spot. Some housing estates/industrial buildings/public housing car parks have stable slow charging, but the facilities are older and the speed is slow.
  • Mall fast charging area
    • Some have time limits (e.g. a maximum of 2 hours) and are monitored by administrators, resulting in a higher turnover rate, but you still need to wait when there are many people.

Editor's experience :

  • If you are leaving a busy area on the weekend, it is best to check the app in advance or use PlugShare to view real-time user sharing, otherwise you may end up with no electricity and no seat, which is really embarrassing.
  • When encountering a gasoline truck occupying a parking space, the only option is usually to call the police or contact the management office, but actual law enforcement is difficult.

3. Actual charging process × Operation steps

Take the most common public fast charging station as an example:

  1. Park the car and align the charging station
    • Look out for signs clearly stating "Electric vehicle charging only".
  2. Scan with mobile app or membership card
    • Different operators require opening different apps/scanning codes/entering parking space numbers.
  3. Plug in the charging gun and start charging
    • DC fast charging (CCS/CHAdeMO/Tesla only) requires corresponding vehicle models.
    • Some charging stations require you to turn on the power switch/confirm safety first.
  4. Mobile app can display real-time charging status
    • Displays the charged amount, estimated completion time, and charge.
  5. Charging completed, draw the gun and restore
    • Be sure to unload your gun after stopping charging, otherwise you will be charged an "overtime fee" or even a fine.
    • Most fast charging stations have time limits, and an additional fee is charged for every minute overdue to prevent people from charging without taking the battery away.
  6. Payment Methods
    • Supports Octopus, credit cards, mobile payments, in-app deductions, etc., with differences between different operators.

Editor's Tips :

  • If you encounter problems with the charging head being "unstable" or the App connecting to the device, it is recommended to restart the App or use another charging head, which will usually solve the problem.
  • If you encounter any abnormalities during charging (not charging/sudden charging stops), please contact the on-site hotline immediately. Some stations provide real-time technical support.

4. Charging speed × actual availability

  • Slow charging (3-7kW) : Only charges about 20-40 kilometers in one hour, suitable for overnight parking/long-term parking, and sufficient for daily commuting.
  • Fast charging (50kW or above) : can be charged to 80% in 30 minutes. Tesla/some new cars can support higher power (120-250kW) for extremely fast charging.
  • Actual performance : Hong Kong's high summer temperatures and low winter temperatures can affect charging efficiency, especially during fast charging periods.

Editor's experience :

  • On weekdays, only slow charging is used, and once or twice a week is enough; when traveling long distances or suddenly needing to "recharge", fast charging stations are very important.
  • However, most fast charging stations are located in paid parking lots such as shopping malls and gas stations, and parking fees must be included in the cost.

5. Charging model × cost considerations

  • Some government/CLP/HK Electric facilities are still free (but becoming increasingly rare)
  • Shopping malls/private stations charge based on the number of charging units , generally $2-4/kWh, and higher for fast charging/specific brands.
  • Overtime charges : Most fast charging stations have an "overtime fee after full charge", usually charging $1-$2 per minute, to avoid occupying the spot.
  • Parking fees : The fast-charging areas in shopping malls sometimes charge “parking fees separately”, so you need to prepare the cost in advance.

Editor's Tips :

  • The average charging cost per 100 kilometers is about $20-30, which is still much lower than that of fuel vehicles. However, if fast charging is frequently used and parking is carried out in expensive parking lots, the economic benefits will be reduced.
  • In recent years, there are fewer and fewer free charging stations. It is recommended not to rely too much on them and to rely mainly on "home slow charging".

3. Pain points and experiences

1. The problem of gasoline trucks occupying parking spaces is serious

  • Although the government has stepped up law enforcement in recent years, it is still common to see gasoline vehicles "parked dead" in busy areas, leaving EV owners "without charging stations".
  • The actual processing speed of reporting to the police or making complaints is slow, which affects the user experience.

2. Insufficient and unevenly distributed charging stations

  • There are more cars than charging piles in urban areas, and in remote areas, there are many charging piles but no one uses them. The planning is not perfect enough.
  • Many charging spots in new developments/housing estates are only available to residents/members, making them difficult for public car owners to use.

3.Charging speed and flow rate issues

  • Slow charging stations have long been occupied by long-term parked cars.
  • When queuing at fast charging stations, you may encounter people cutting in line or not leaving after charging. The management is inconsistent.

4. Incompatibility between apps/cards/systems of different operators

  • You need to download multiple apps and register multiple memberships, which is cumbersome and confusing.
  • Sometimes there are two or three suppliers on a site at the same time, which makes newcomers feel at a loss.

5. Equipment aging/slow maintenance

  • Some charging stations have fallen into disrepair, with loose plugs, malfunctioning apps, inability to start, and untimely maintenance.
  • Sometimes there is no technical support on site and you can only wait for the next maintenance.

4. Editor's Recommendations × Hong Kong EV Charging Beginner's Guide

1. Plan ahead and always have a Plan B

  • Check the app before going out, select multiple charging stations as backup, and reserve enough power for a "backup route."

2. Get a slow charging station at home or in your housing estate

  • If you have a fixed parking space, try to apply to install your own slow charging pile, which is the most convenient and cost-effective for daily charging.

3. Develop good habits and don’t occupy or dominate seats

  • Charge and drive away, respect the rights of other car owners.
  • If you encounter a gas truck occupying your seat, don't be impulsive. Communicate first and call the police if necessary.

4. Leverage charging station user communities

  • Pay more attention to real-time information in PlugShare and local EV groups on Facebook to share information and avoid wasted trips.

5. Understand the specifications of different charging heads

  • Be familiar with the charging standards supported by your car model (Type 2, CCS, CHAdeMO, Tesla-specific) to avoid going to the wrong station.

6. Calculate charging costs to avoid fast charging addiction

  • Slow charging is the most economical, and fast charging is used in emergencies. If you only use fast charging for a long time, the cost will be higher than expected.

5. Future Development × Editor’s Outlook

  • The government has pledged to have charging stations in two-thirds of public car parks in Hong Kong by 2027, and the coverage rate will be significantly increased in the future.
  • More commercial buildings and housing estates are applying for subsidies to install slow charging piles, and home charging will become more and more popular in the future.
  • The fast-charging network (such as Tesla V3, SHELL Ultra-fast, and Sinopec's new stations) continues to expand, making long-distance travel more convenient.

However, in the short term, practical problems such as "charging for charging piles", "gasoline vehicles occupying spaces", and "app incompatibility" will continue for some time. It is recommended that novices/friends preparing to buy EVs be mentally prepared.

6. Editor’s Summary × Truth

The overall experience of EV charging stations in Hong Kong has improved year by year, but many "authentic troubles" still exist.

  • Be prepared and have a plan, charge slowly on weekdays and quickly on holidays, make good use of social media, apps, and backup plans, and you can basically handle it with ease.
  • We hope that future policy coordination and improved public education will lead to better user experiences and further development of Hong Kong’s EV sector.

If you have any EV charging questions, please leave a message or private message us to share tips and make your EV life in Hong Kong easier and smarter! I wish all EV owners a smooth charging journey!

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