Heading north in electrical vehicles has these days turn out to be a focus for native drivers. Nonetheless, even when you win the fortunate draw, full the appliance course of and automobile inspection, and buy insurance coverage, if you’re driving an electrical automobile, you’ll face one other problem: the charging requirements in Hong Kong and the Mainland are completely different, requiring the acquisition of adapters. Typically, electrical vehicles can solely journey about 200-300 km on a full cost, and contemplating a spherical journey on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) will complete 110 km, the remaining energy could also be insufficient. Due to this fact, most homeowners must cost their vehicles someplace alongside the journey. On this Kwiksure article, we are going to take a look at the 4 main challenges (charging adapters, discovering charging stations, discovering parking areas, dealing with accidents) that electrical automobile drivers want to concentrate to when heading north.
1. Totally different Charging Requirements in Hong Kong and the Mainland, Drivers Have to Buy Adapters Themselves
Charging requirements will be divided into alternating present (AC) and direct present (DC), as proven within the desk beneath.
| Charging Commonplace | AC (Medium-Pace Charging) | DC (Quick Charging) | ||
| Car Manufacturers | Kind 1 | Kind 2 | CHAdeMO | CCS2 |
| Nissan | Tesla, Audi, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Hyundai, and so forth. | Nissan | Tesla, Audi, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Hyundai, and so forth. | |
At the moment, most electrical automobiles in Hong Kong use European customary charging plugs Kind 2 / CCS 2. Nonetheless, in Mainland China, each DC and AC charging use the Chinese language Nationwide Commonplace (GB) and no adapters are offered, that means that Hong Kong electrical automobiles can not straight use Mainland charging services, whether or not it is charging poles in buying malls, parking zone charging stations, or Tesla’s V2/V3 tremendous charging stations. To resolve this downside, automobile homeowners might want to carry their very own adapters in Hong Kong.
AC Kind 1 Charging Plug
AC Kind 2 Charging Plug
DC CHAdeMO Charging Plug
DC CCS2 Charging Plug
2. Which Charging Adapter Ought to Tesla Electrical Automobile Homeowners Purchase Earlier than Heading North?
Tesla’s Official GB AC Adapter (solely relevant to Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y)
Tesla Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y homeowners can buy Tesla’s official “GB/AC adapter” for HK$3,200. When utilizing an AC medium-speed or customary wall-mounted charging gadget in Mainland China, this adapter can be utilized by connecting one finish to the Tesla charging port and the opposite finish to the Chinese language GB customary medium-speed charging plug. Nonetheless, due to the medium-speed charging, it is going to take no less than 5-6 hours to totally cost.
Tesla’s Official GB DC Adapter (solely relevant to Mannequin S and Mannequin X)
Tesla’s official GB DC adapter is at the moment solely out there for Mannequin S and Mannequin X. In different phrases, Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y at the moment can not use DC fast-charging poles and Tesla’s V2/V3 tremendous charging stations within the Mainland. The Tesla GB DC adapter can also be priced at HK$3,200, however Tesla customer support has acknowledged that there’s at the moment no inventory of GB DC adapters in Hong Kong and Mainland China, and it isn’t identified when they are going to be out there once more.
Because the official adapter is out of inventory, must you buy third-party charging adapters? Our specialists at Kwiksure strongly advise towards doing so as a result of the security of third-party adapters is questionable, and it’s tough for automobile homeowners to confirm the so-called “security certifications.” If, ultimately, saving a couple of thousand {dollars} results in a breakdown of an electrical automobile price a whole bunch of hundreds, that might be an actual tragedy.
3. Troublesome to Discover Charging Stations in Mainland China/Zhuhai?
Mainland Chinese language automobile homeowners typically use the Amap navigation app. By looking for “charging stations” on Amap and choosing “charging energy” from the filter, then selecting “sluggish charging” (as the present adapter solely helps sluggish charging), you’ll find the places of close by charging stations. The charging charges, real-time utilization data, and parking charges on the charging stations are additionally displayed. Furthermore, you may filter particular charging pole manufacturers primarily based in your wants.
Total, there’s a excessive focus of charging stations in downtown Zhuhai, however charging stations are comparatively way more scarce within the western and northern components of Zhuhai. Due to this fact, it is suggested that automobile homeowners plan upfront when and the place to cost, particularly when touring throughout cities or areas, to keep away from difficulties find charging stations on longer journeys.
Record of Main AC Sluggish-Charging Stations in Zhuhai
| Charging Station Handle | Variety of AC Charging Poles | Charging Charges |
| Basketball Courtroom, Titan Expertise Park, No. 60 Xianghua West Highway, Jida, Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province | 2 | Charging charge: RMB ¥0.10/kWhService charge: RMB ¥0.10/kWh |
| Titan Expertise Park, No. 60 Xianghua West Highway, Jida, Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province | 4 | Charging charge: RMB ¥0.20/kWhService charge: RMB ¥0.10-0.30/kWh |
| No. 122 Guihua South Highway, Gongbei District, Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province | 2 | Charging charge: 00:00-24:00: RMB ¥1.3000Service charge: 00:00-24:00: RMB ¥0.7500/hour |
| Huitong Pupil Residences Parking Lot, UIC New Tradition City, Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province | 1 | Charging charge: 00:00-24:00: RMB ¥0.8500Service charge: 00:00-24:00: RMB ¥0.8500/hour |
4. Methods to Discover Parking House in Mainland China?
At the moment, there are three widespread conditions with parking in Mainland China:
- Newer massive buying malls in Mainland China can normally acknowledge Hong Kong and Macau license plate numbers.
- Some parking tons have QR codes on the entrance, and drivers must scan the QR code utilizing WeChat and enter as if their automobile was with out license plates.
- Some parking tons have employees or contact cellphone numbers on the entrance, which drivers can name to have the gate opened.
Nonetheless, there are additionally some parking zone methods that don’t acknowledge Hong Kong license plate numbers, leading to drivers having to park at roadside meters. The Transport and Logistics Bureau is at the moment discussing doable methods to enhance parking zone methods in Mainland China with related Mainland authorities.
5. What to Do in a Automobile Accident in Mainland China?
Dealing with automobile accidents within the Mainland differs barely from dealing with accidents in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, it is suggested that drivers report the accident to the police as quickly as doable and inform their insurer inside 48 hours. In Mainland China, along with calling the general public safety bureau, drivers must also instantly notify their insurer.
The mechanisms in Mainland China are comparatively easier. Site visitors police on the accident scene will decide legal responsibility on the spot. If each events agree, they’ll proceed with the compensation course of. In any other case, the case might be appealed to the court docket.