The Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) will set up this week four swap stations in four districts, including the Macau peninsula’s reservoir, Rua Central da Areia Preta (黑沙環中街), Rua da Doca Seca (船澳街) and at Taipa Central Park, to help electric motorcycle owners swap their empty batteries with fully charged ones, according to DSPA Director Ip Kuong Lam.
Speaking on the sidelines of a public event on Saturday, Ip told the media that this “innovative scheme” would run for a trial period of two years, adding that the swap stations would be set up in temporary pick-up and drop-off areas in the four districts, which would “not cause traffic congestion and also make it easier for vehicle owners to swap their batteries”.
According to Ip, each swap station will initially be equipped with a “couple of branded battery compartments”. He did not identify which companies’ batteries would be used for the pilot programme, nor did he say how many battery compartments would be provided at each swap station. However, in speaking to reporters, Ip called on the sector to apply for more different brands of batteries to be put on the market.
Meanwhile, according to the bureau, 630 electric vehicle charging stations are now available in 49 public carparks, with a total of 204 national standard sockets. Among the city’s carparks, eight are equipped with swap stations. The bureau’s decision to set up the national standard sockets was made in response to a raft of incidents suspected to have been caused by the improper use of charging sockets for electric motorcycles.
Applications for the second phase of financial assistance for the replacement of old motorcycles with electric ones will end on May 31. Asked by the media about the scheme, Ip revealed his bureau’s plan of launching its third phase.
This undated handout photo provided by the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) last Tuesday shows the charging station for e-motorbikes in a public carpark.
