Hong Kong people's attitudes towards electric cars

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a survey carried out in Hong Kong to gauge people's attitudes towards electric cars and the reason for the small number of electric cars on the roads. The survey, carried out among 200 people in November 2012, shows that people, in general, recognise the positive environmental, economic and social benefits that electric cars bring to Hong Kong, but prefer not to purchase electric cars because of their high costs. On the other hand, the technical limitations of electric cars (such as the short distance that electric cars can be driven before needing to be recharged) are not considered a major problem. The paper concludes that electric cars can successfully be introduced in Hong Kong if the government is more actively engaged through price incentives, and together with private operators provide additional support, including free parking and additional recharging stations.