MDT Report | Running on electric power is a difficult trend to set

It has been a while since manufacturers first launched the so-called Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Though the trend seems to be flourishing in mainland China, mostly due to “e-bikes” (bicycles powered by electricity), the EV scene in Macau is still in a very early stage of development, especially because bicycles are not that popular in the region.
According to official figures provided by the Transport Bureau (DSAT), a total of 57 electric cars and 82 electric motorcycles were registered in the territory as of July 2016.
The Times spoke with local resident Sergio Lacerda, one of Macau’s early EV adopters.
Lacerda told the Times he has been riding on his electric motorcycle for about five years, and he is generally pleased with it.
In Lacerda’s opinion, “all vehicles in Macau should be electric [powered]” as the territory is the perfect place for such vehicles.
“People in other places around the world always complain that EVs aren’t suitable because they have short battery life. In Macau, that problem doesn’t exist, because one charge can last for a day, a week or even a month in some cases,” he said.
He said that contrary to what many people think, the biggest problem for the implementation of EVs is not the charging stations but the fact that many of the products on the market, especially motorcycles, are still “not as good as the petrol versions” and “nobody wants to go from better to worse.”
Lacerda added that most small electric scooters lack power and do not perform as well.
Another issue, he said, is that “each brand has its own parts. They do not share these components among each other and since there aren’t many manufacturers and many vehicles on the roads, [it] is hard to find parts and components.”
The problem is exacerbated when it comes to batteries.
“Batteries are pretty much everything in an EV. If they last only five years, you better buy another motorcycle because the replacement will cost as much as a new motorcycle,” he said, affirming that there is a great deal of room for improvement.
“Batteries need to improve a lot. What we now have available is quite old technology. They must be much smaller, much lighter and last much longer. If that happens, I’m sure everybody will want to have an EV.”
The MSAR recently announced a new policy for EVs with its five-year plan, pledging to encourage EV usage by “[creating] 200 charging stations between 2016 and 2019, and that those sorts of facilities will also be included in the upcoming public housing developments.”
Lacerda thinks this is a good measure, as “people feel safer to invest in the product if they know they will have a place to charge it.”
However, he says that the creation of charging stations is less important than applying the system to public transport, recalling that both Zhuhai and Hong Kong already operate fleets of electric taxis and buses.
In late June, the Zhuhai government announced that out of the cars it expects to buy for its public service departments in the coming years, thirty percent would be electric.
It also ordered some departments to install charging facilities and reserve specific parking spaces for such vehicles.
The company responsible for the installation of charging stations also launched an app to help electric car users locate available charging spots. The app enables online payments through a designated platform. The company already provides more than 100 charging stations throughout the city, and expects to have a total of 200 by 2017.
The Zhuhai government said that by using electric cars, its departments would set an example for the public to follow. Six chargers have already been installed at the government headquarters.
Zhuhai recorded a total of 2,021 electric vehicles by the end of 2015. Most are for the public, including buses, taxis, company cars and public rental cars.
Just two days ago, the Transport Bureau (DSAT) announced the implementation of a new bus route, named E02. The route will be served by electric buses and will run for an experimental 30-day period.
In order to encourage the public to try the service, the government will offer free rides on these buses during the trial period.
The buses will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., from Monday to Saturday (public holidays excluded). Buses will depart every 30 minutes.
Passengers can be picked up or dropped off at 19 bus stops across Taipa and the Macau Peninsula, including Torre de Macau and Praça de Ferreira do Amaral, with Edifício do Lago serving as the terminal.
Similar short-term initiatives have been tried in Macau before. The longest service, which is still running, is Sands China’s electric shuttle bus for staff members.