LCQ13: Traffic safety of electric vehicles

     Following is a question by the Hon Leung Man-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, in the Legislative Council today (January 24):
 
Question:
 
     According to the statistics of the Transport Department, the proportion of first registered electric private cars in the total number of first registered private cars exceeded 50 per cent in 2022 and the first eight months of 2023. On the other hand, it has been reported that traffic accidents involving electric vehicles (EVs) have occurred frequently in recent years. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the respective rates of traffic accidents and the respective numbers of casualties involving EVs and non-EVs in the past three years; if so, of the figures concerned; if not, the reasons for that, and whether it will compile such statistics;
 
(2) as it is learnt that the methods of EVs for accelerating to start up and decelerating to stop are different to those of petrol vehicles, whether the Government has put in place measures to encourage or assist drivers to familiarize themselves with the operation of EVs; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) whether the Government has put in place measures to (i) regulate the standards of EV repair workshops and the qualifications of repair mechanics, and (ii) provide relevant training to repair mechanics; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:

President,
 
     Having consulted the Transport Department (TD) and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department in respect of traffic safety of electric vehicles, my reply to various parts of the question raised by Hon Leung Man-kwong is as follows:

(1) According to TD's record, the traffic accident rates involving electric vehicles and non-electric vehicles between 2021 and 2023 are tabulated below:
 

Notes:
^  Pure electric vehicle
# Traffic accident rate is calculated with respect to the number of vehicles licensed in the middle of the year
*  Provisional figures
 
     The numbers of casualties in traffic accidents involving electric vehicles and non-electric vehicles between 2021 and 2023 are tabulated below:
 

Notes:
^ Pure electric vehicle
* Provisional figures

(2) The Government attaches great importance to road safety. The TD continues to disseminate safety tips for driving electric vehicles to the driving instructor trade to let learner drivers get familiar with the relevant information. In addition, TD has been collaborating with the Road Safety Council and the Hong Kong Police Force to enhance drivers' safety awareness when driving electric vehicles through various publicity and education activities.

(3) To tie in with the Hong Kong Roadmap on Popularisation of Electric Vehicles, the Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong 2035 and Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 as well as the latest development of electric vehicles, the Government has set up the Vehicle Maintenance Technical Advisory Committee (VMTAC) in collaboration with the vehicle maintenance trade, academic and training institutes, professional bodies, vehicle owners' associations and other stakeholders, etc. The VMTAC supports the inclusion of electric vehicle maintenance services under the existing voluntary registration schemes for vehicle maintenance. The Government is working with the trade, training institutes and other stakeholders to formulate voluntary registration requirements for vehicle mechanics (VMs) and vehicle maintenance workshops (VMWs) for electric vehicles, including training and skills required for the registration of VMs, facilities required for the registration of VMWs as well as the implementation details and timeline, with a view to enabling qualified VMs and VMWs engaging in electric vehicle maintenance to be included in the relevant scope of registration service in the future. The Government aims to launch the relevant measures within 2024.
 
     In addition, the Government has been actively collaborating with various stakeholders to jointly promote and strengthen the training of electric vehicle technicians and mechanics. The Vocational Training Council offered a certificate course on electric vehicle repair and maintenance in August 2023 and is planning to set up a dedicated electric vehicle training workshop to train up more qualified VMs to cater for the popularisation of EV in Hong Kong; and the Occupational Safety and Health Council has launched a course on the safety awareness of electric vehicle maintenance in December 2023 for existing VMs to acquire the relevant safety knowledge about electric vehicle maintenance.