Four Major Challenges for Electric Car Drivers Heading North

Heading north in electric cars has lately become a focal point for local drivers. However, even if you win the lucky draw, complete the application process and vehicle inspection, and purchase insurance, if you are driving an electric car, you will face another challenge: the charging standards in Hong Kong and the Mainland are different, requiring the purchase of adapters. Generally, electric cars can only travel about 200-300 km on a full charge, and considering a round trip on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) will total 110 km, the remaining power may be inadequate. Therefore, most owners need to charge their cars somewhere along the trip. In this Kwiksure article, we will look at the four major challenges (charging adapters, finding charging stations, finding parking spaces, handling accidents) that electric car drivers need to pay attention to when heading north.

1. Different Charging Standards in Hong Kong and the Mainland, Drivers Need to Purchase Adapters Themselves

Charging standards can be divided into alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC), as shown in the table below.

Currently, most electric vehicles in Hong Kong use European standard charging plugs Type 2 / CCS 2. However, in Mainland China, both DC and AC charging use the Chinese National Standard (GB) and no adapters are provided, meaning that Hong Kong electric vehicles cannot directly use Mainland charging facilities, whether it's charging poles in shopping malls, parking lot charging stations, or Tesla's V2/V3 super charging stations. To solve this problem, car owners will need to bring their own adapters in Hong Kong.

AC Type 1 Charging Plug

AC Type 2 Charging Plug

DC CHAdeMO Charging Plug

DC CCS2 Charging Plug

2. Which Charging Adapter Should Tesla Electric Car Owners Buy Before Heading North?

Tesla’s Official GB AC Adapter (only applicable to Model 3 and Model Y)

Tesla Model 3 and Model Y owners can purchase Tesla's official "GB/AC adapter" for HK$3,200. When using an AC medium-speed or standard wall-mounted charging device in Mainland China, this adapter can be used by connecting one end to the Tesla charging port and the other end to the Chinese GB standard medium-speed charging plug. However, because of the medium-speed charging, it will take at least 5-6 hours to fully charge.

Tesla’s Official GB DC Adapter (only applicable to Model S and Model X)

Tesla's official GB DC adapter is currently only available for Model S and Model X. In other words, Model 3 and Model Y currently cannot use DC fast-charging poles and Tesla’s V2/V3 super charging stations in the Mainland. The Tesla GB DC adapter is also priced at HK$3,200, but Tesla customer service has stated that there is currently no stock of GB DC adapters in Hong Kong and Mainland China, and it is not known when they will be available again.

Since the official adapter is out of stock, should you purchase third-party charging adapters? Our experts at Kwiksure strongly advise against doing so because the safety of third-party adapters is questionable, and it is difficult for vehicle owners to verify the so-called "safety certifications." If, in the end, saving a few thousand dollars leads to a breakdown of an electric car worth hundreds of thousands, that would be a real tragedy.

3. Difficult to Find Charging Stations in Mainland China/Zhuhai?

Mainland Chinese car owners often use the Amap navigation app. By searching for "charging stations" on Amap and selecting "charging power" from the filter, then choosing "slow charging" (as the current adapter only supports slow charging), you can find the locations of nearby charging stations. The charging fees, real-time usage information, and parking fees at the charging stations are also displayed. Moreover, you can filter specific charging pole brands based on your needs.

Overall, there is a high concentration of charging stations in downtown Zhuhai, but charging stations are relatively much more scarce in the western and northern parts of Zhuhai. Therefore, it is recommended that car owners plan in advance when and where to charge, especially when traveling across cities or regions, to avoid difficulties in finding charging stations on longer trips.

List of Major AC Slow-Charging Stations in Zhuhai

4. How to Find Parking Space in Mainland China?

Currently, there are three common situations with parking in Mainland China:

1. Newer large shopping malls in Mainland China can usually recognize Hong Kong and Macau license plate numbers.
2. Some parking lots have QR codes at the entrance, and drivers need to scan the QR code using WeChat and enter as if their car was without license plates.
3. Some parking lots have staff or contact phone numbers at the entrance, which drivers can call to have the gate opened.

However, there are also some parking lot systems that do not recognize Hong Kong license plate numbers, resulting in drivers having to park at roadside meters. The Transport and Logistics Bureau is currently discussing possible ways to improve parking lot systems in Mainland China with relevant Mainland authorities.

5. What to Do in a Car Accident in Mainland China?

Handling car accidents in the Mainland differs slightly from handling accidents in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, it is recommended that drivers report the accident to the police as soon as possible and inform their insurer within 48 hours. In Mainland China, in addition to calling the public security bureau, drivers should also immediately notify their insurer.

The mechanisms in Mainland China are relatively simpler. Traffic police at the accident scene will determine liability on the spot. If both parties agree, they will proceed with the compensation process. Otherwise, the case will be appealed to the court.