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In the global evolution of energy replenishment for new-energy vehicles, battery-swapping technology has undergone a dramatic rejuvenation. As early as 2007, the Israeli company Better Place already outlined a blueprint for automated battery swapping, attempting to eliminate range anxiety by physically replacing the battery.

In retrospect, over the past five years, the global automobile industry has undergone dramatic changes in its first half, during which “energy defines the car” was the theme of competition, i.e. a race in battery technology and driving range.

In last week’s column, I did an in-depth analysis of the structural contradictions confronting Hong Kong’s electric vehicle (EV) charging market: acute scarcity of land and limitations in power capacity. Pursuing extensive growth by simply “piling up hardware” is decidedly ill-advised.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging technology is in a phase of rapid iterative development. Early alternating current (AC) slow charging is already on the way out, while direct current (DC) fast charging standards have become an entry-level feature.

For many electric vehicle (EV) owners in Hong Kong, circling around the car park near home after work to look for an available charging spot has become a daily routine. At weekends, they drive to park at shopping malls, only to find few charging bays available.

2020年疫情以來，港人的消費習慣受到衝擊，不得不發生轉變。居家隔離迫使人們線上購物，病毒傳播迫使人們減少現金的使用，包括現在政府發行消費券，都使得舊有的路徑依賴強行變換軌道。而隨着線下商店線上化、物流配送更加完善等基礎設施建設，是否說明香港未來的電子商貿將走上暢通無阻的康莊大道？