Charged Hong Kong Members' Stories #005 -- Mr. Alex Wai

Alex Wai with his Tesla Model S

Alex Wai, a name known to many globally, yet we know so little of him, he tells EV stories of Asia to tens of thousands, yet almost none has told stories of him - he's an international man of mystery, he's the journalist of InsideEVs and he's our guest for today's issue of Charged Hong Kong Members' Stories #005!

Here's our interview below:

Locky Law (LL): Hello everyone. We have a very special guest with us today and I am very excited about this interview. I say this because our guest rarely accepts interviews, not because he rejects them, but because he is the one who usually asks others for interviews instead of being asked, that being said, he is probably more famous globally than any of his interviewees! Let's welcome Charged Hong Kong founding member Alex Wai from InsideEVs!

Alex Wai (AW): Well thank you Locky for having me here today. I am actually a rookie when I began writing for InsideEVs but being an EV enthusiast does help in finding the topics that may interest the readers.

LL: Alex, is this your very first time to be interviewed by someone?

AW: I would have to say YES in this format.

LL: Haha! I am honoured! Alex and I are actually do communicate quite a lot because I am one of his biggest fans, so whenever I feel I should be reading a new article by him, I will text him and chase him for new stories.

AW: Thank you actually the honor is mine to have you interview me. I believe you have probably cover more local and now Singapore news with Mr.Joe Nguyen's experience on ChargedHK and your own blog than what I have done in the past year.

Alex at Charged Hong Kong Rally 2015 +Hotel ICON 

LL: Well, that's because I'm less busy than you are. So, Alex, maybe you can share with us what usually keeps you busy in a day?

AW: Where to begin.....I am married and have a son who is turning 3 years old next month so I tired to keep enough family time while not working. After having spend my early career in desktop publishing then into the field of IT, lately I have been primary focusing on managing an Aesthetic Medical Clinic with my wife where she also practice as a doctor consulting patients. The remaining time I have setup my own company wanting to do something related to EV or charging business but that is still idling at the moment as I have not found the right solution and it is too early to tell the market trend for charging. I have also spent much time in contacting different commercial electric vehicle manufacturer and converter in US/Europe to discuss a feasible solution for Hong Kong market but most of the solution are impractical today as many were original developed by government back funding. Unless it can be mass produced, the unit cost could not be justify for daily commercial use. One of the area I have also looked at is electric school bus and have some very preliminary talks with a school about the idea. And of course the remaining time I spend is writing for InsideEVs and participate in ChargedHK events, like the Charged Hong Kong Rally 2015 at Hotel ICON.

Alex Supercharging at Cyberport car park

LL: Of course, about InsideEVs, please tell us a little about it and when you have started writing for InsideEVs ... what you cover.

AW: Early last year, I was looking at different online website about EVs while waiting for my Model S delivery spanning for 9 months period, I came across the InsideEVs website. I have been reading it for many months before I realized they were looking for someone to cover EV news for Asia. At first, I didn't pay much attention about it until I had gained deeper knowledge about EV technology then thought I could try something new and take up the challenge in covering stories for the site. So I wrote to the editor and that's how I joined their team.

LL: So basically, you started writing about EVs before you've got your own EV. What's so fascinating about EVs in your opinions?

AW: Yes, before I took delivery of my Model S. One of the things that fascinate me the most is how insanely fast (Or I should say Ludicrous) this industry is evolving. I very much enjoy learning the latest technology and trends so I guess this is why this new industry has caught my attention. I am more into battery, motor and inverter technology than the car itself.

LL: And I know you own 2 Tesla Model S? Why Tesla Model S? Could you please share its configurations with us and tell us why you choose this model?

AW: I spent almost 6 months in doing research before deciding to place deposit on my first Model S P85D. Besides all the cool features the driving range was the key factor I chose it over other brands. Technically I also like how the battery pack is designed to be swapable. This gave me confidence that I could keep this car for a very long time if I choose to and allows me to upgrade in both software and hardware. Many of the other brands have limited driving range and some were design around their ICE model family that technically forbids you to upgrade even if the manufacturer wants to offer such option. Initially I was only considering a 85 or 85D but couldn't resist the insane mode feature that can outrun most exotic sports car in 0-100km.  The second Model S 70 which my parents uses was purely being a stock model with the practical options and without having to wait 2-3 months delivery time. With the affordable finance plans and warranty coverage the monthly cost is similar to my brand new Prius that I got 10 years ago, I thought it was a good time to phase out the hybrid technology (which I believe was quite advance at the time)

Alex's Tesla Model S finds a friend

LL: Excellent. Now, if I am to force you to pick 1 favourite thing about your Tesla Model S, what would it be?

AW: Simplicity compare to an ICE car and even other EV models from other brand.

LL: Well, that's neatly answered. My questions are going to get tricky, almost like a quiz. Ready? How many types of EVs are sold in Hong Kong? Name a few brands off the top of your head.

AW: Well from what I recall there are about 50+ models and 30+ of them are private cars or motocycle. The remaining are either public transport or commercial vehicles. Of course Tesla, BMW, VW, Renault, Nissan, BYD, Zero (motorcycle)....

LL: Rank the top three most popular EVs sold in Hong Kong and say why the Hong Kong EV market is as such.

AW: Tesla Model S, BMW i3......ummm the third most popular is kind of tricky to tell. I would have to say Nissan Leaf but the Renault models are catching up since it is popular with government dept. I think Hong Kong EV market will gradually go from range anxiety to charging anxiety. As long as there are charging location as common or as easy as getting your iPhone or smartphone charge ...as I agree with the comment made by Elon while he was in Hong Kong for the special event in Jan... the driving range don't matter as much. Hong Kong is such a small place compare to mainland China, US or European having a EV packed with a 300km compare to a 1000km does not make much difference other than having to charge less frequently. So let me ask you would a phone battery that will last few days or even a week be a top feature in your phone pick list? We don't think about it since we can charge our phones almost anywhere.

LL: Hong Kong is the No. 1 city with the highest concentration of EVs in the world. How many EVs and public EV chargers are there in Hong Kong?

AW: As of the end of Jan 2016 EDP reports the number of EVs registered in HK is 4464 units with over 1300 EV chargers for the public. Out of those, more than 200 medium chargers and 150 plus quick chargers. I believe these numbers will continue to move upwards.

LL: You ARE well-prepared for this interview! Nice! Is that enough to cope with the growing EV numbers then?

AW: If we want the transition to a full ICE free roads that is never enough. We need EV drivers to have best experience where they can go to any location and there is charging facility available. Having home charger made available to all EV owner is a good start which will offload the queuing stress at public chargers.

LL: Agree, many of our members want home charging, the difficulties lie in not having permission to do so in their car parks, but that's a huge topic to discuss. Okay, next one. What's the next most anticipated EV in Hong Kong and why?

AW: I would have to say Model 3 even though Model X has not arrived in Hong Kong yet. Model 3 price point should convince more ICE owners to switch assuming the charging anxiety problem has been resolved.

LL: Tesla Model 3 has just been unveiled on April Fool's day, what do you think about this much anticipated EV? Has that fooled you and will you get it?

AW: I believe the Tesla team has done a good job so far when presenting the Model 3 at the event. Even though it will be at least a two years wait, it is in Tesla's DNA that the final product will not just be good but GREAT. I have put in a deposit and will decide then if I should trade-in my current MS when the invitation arrives to configure the car.

LL: So before you can configure your car, here's my next question: what's the next most incredible function you want to see added to your car? And when do you think that will happen?

AW: Next generation auto-pilot with Summon that can drive through HK busy streets on its own. I could drive to work then let the car drive home by itself to be parked. Then call up my car again when I am ready to leave. The same feature will also likely drive down the need for people having to own their car where car sharing business model will become a common trend that consumers prefer if all the legal or monopoly barriers are removed.

Alex charging at a multi-standard charger at Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong

LL: I'm sure Tesla Hong Kong is working hard on getting Summon approved by TD (Transport Department of Hong Kong). This question's on charging standard: will CHAdeMO be here to stay in Hong Kong and why? Because it seems to be disappearing in Europe and in the States.

AW: This is like predicting VHS vs Betamax or Blu-Ray vs HD DVD. Supporting multiple standard requires much more resources and confuses consumer. Manufacturers are holding up with their standard to keep competition behind while having leverage and control on the market...maybe except for Tesla who makes it available to others as long as they pay the share cost. Also the benefit of one standard over another is not that substantial to justify to keep multiple standard. Although I do own CHAdeMO adapter for my MS, I personally in favor for a single standard as a consumer.

LL: That's true, one more standard means one more cable or an adapter. Lastly, name one thing you would like to see happening in 2017.

AW: I hope there will be more charging stalls at most parking facilities but using the power distribution method where each stall does not require a dedicated or fixed amount of power. Any stalls can be a quick, medium and standard charger depending on the status of the EV or based on price when the free public charging ends. If you need a quick charge you have to pay a premium or if you can stay for hours then the cost is less.

LL: Lovely! Well, that's all the time we can have with Alex today. Thank you very much Alex for your insights and hopefully we'll see more of your articles soon!

AW: Thank you.... great to be talking to you.

Charged Hong Kong Members' Stories #004 -- Mr. Desmond Wong

Desmond with his Tesla Model S 70

It takes a lot of enthusiasm to be socialising with and answering questions from hundreds of EV owners on multiple instant messenger apps.  Charged Hong Kong Members' Stories #004 has Mr. Desmond Wong, a "non-Rich Man" who owns a "not-a-toy" Tesla Model S.

Here's our interview below:

Locky Law (LL): For today's interview, I have invited Mr. Desmond Wong, an EV and EV groups enthusiast who has devoted his time in sharing knowledge to literally hundreds of EV owners through the internet. Welcome Desmond!

Desmond Wong (DW): Thanks Locky for inviting me to talk about EV and myself.

LL: Could you please tell us something about yourself, your family and your car?

DW: I'm a probationary licence holder (P driver) and a rare weekend driver, whereas my wife Kristy Ho is the one who drives our Tesla Model S 70kWh to work as we live in the New Territories. Originally I'm supposed to be the owner of this dream car in order to celebrate my "late success" but unfortunately I failed to get insured last year, but I'm happy to know that some P driver succeeded in getting insured recently.

LL: Is your Tesla Model S your very first car?

DW: Before Tesla, my wife tried a few ICE of different sizes starting from the smallest Smartfortwo followed by BMW and Camry.  Honestly I'm not an environmentalist and seldom think about air pollution issue caused by ICE.  The choice of EV or Tesla was not driven by environmental concern but a desire for a special car.  It was only until my white Tesla got layer of dust on the edge of the trunk after a highway drive then I realised that the pollution from exhaust emission from ICE is no difference from the smoking hazard.

LL: But there are some views in Hong Kong saying that EVs, and particularly a Tesla one, are just "Rich Man's Toys".

DW: To me EV or Tesla is not a rich-boy toy for showing off but a car with excellent safety measures for new driver like me which cuts expenditure on fuel for my wife who drives daily. That's why we chose Tesla without hesitation, it was just a 2-hour decision). I understand that there have been a few interviews of members who are businessmen, professionals, car experts and environmentalists, it could be interesting to have a voice from a different angle and I think I could be one of those representing the ordinary working class.

LL: Talking about safety features, the Transport Department of Hong Kong has recently approved Autosteer and Auto Lane Change of the Autopilot driver-assistance package. And from our previous conversation, I know that you have not yet included this package in your car. May I know why you haven't chosen that yet?

DW: At that time, it looked to me that the government would unlikely approve the function so I adopted a wait-and-see approach, which turned out to be a wrong guess.  I would purchase the feature when summon function is available as I believe that parking a sizeable EV is a challenging task in certain parking areas.

LL: Now, Tesla Model 3 prototype has just been unveiled a few days ago on 1st April, what are you views on this affordable EV, and how would you compare this with your Tesla Model S?

DW: Based on my limited experience with Tesla and technology, I would tend to think that the later the better and cheaper.  In other words, an EV with enhanced features targeting at a wider scope of car owners is always possible.  While Model 3 or EV of any other brands could be priced at a more affordable level, the charging facilities have to be substantially enhanced before EV can become a major trend in Hong Kong.  Compared to Model S, Model 3 is a smaller sedan with a refreshing interior design and panoramic roof; however, I do not lose my strong liking to Model S in particular in areas like its range and speed.

LL: Would you consider switching to the Model 3?

DW: I will consider switching to Model 3 by exercising the Resale Value Guarantee (RVG) of Model S when the uncertainty from both the First Registration Tax (FRT) and the charging issue is cleared.

LL: That's great, because that takes us to my next question. As a "non-Rich Man", what do you think about the EV development in Hong Kong?

DW: EV is still at a very preliminary journey and the governmental EV policy still has a lot to emerge and enhance.  If there could be a behavioural change of car owners through extensive education, which is supported by a revolutionary EV policy change such as to increase the charging facility coverage and charging efficiency at each carpark, I would feel more optimistic about the EV development in Hong Kong.  Kindly note that promoting EV is an even harder war than anti-smoking as 99% of existing cars are ICE of which the owners may have hesitation or misunderstanding on EV.  Apart from the charging issue, EV maintenance could be another focus that we would be concerned about.  Lowering the maintenance costs and time could be an encouraging factor to attract more EV.

Desmond 

LL: One key hindrance that has been dragging the heels of EV growth in Hong Kong is the inadequacy of charging stations as well as their availability. Given that some charging stations are occupied by ICE at various times of the day, do you have a suggestions for prospective and new EV owners on this?


DW: In the absence of any EV-friendly charging policy or related legislation, a charging spot located at parking space in general is not reserved solely for charging by EV; in other words, ICE or EV can park there without charging.  Under this situation, building a few slow charging spots may not be meaningful.  The government, carpark management, and EV charging providers should aim at providing substantial high-speed charging facilities possibly at each spot such that EV can charge whenever there is vacant lot without the need to reserve any parking spots to EV.  Also, carpark management or EV charging providers should also establish charging spot policy.  On the other hand, EV owners should be educated on the appropriate use of charging spots and discouraged (by clamping or warning notice) for overcharging or parking without charging.

LL: Are you having any difficulties in charging your car then?

DW: Yes, I am one of those unfortunate owners who do not have any home or office chargers and need to rely on SC or CHAdeMO chargers.  Situation gets worse recently due to the enormous increase in new EV numbers.  The upsetting charging experience can really deter people from making the change to EV.  I really hope that the government and Tesla should think about solutions and act quickly before the issue becomes lethal which could put a stop at the EV growth.

LL:  Finally, what other things you find worthwhile to share with us about EV?

DW: Thanks to the small population of EV users who are arguably guinea pigs to the new EV technology, we can form a very united group in which people are willing to help and share ideas or information in either the chat groups or through meeting each other at charging spots.  Also, I got to know a team of EV enthusiasts from Charged Hong Kong who dedicate their own private time to promote EV and meet with various stakeholders in the fight for EV development.  This is really impressive which definitely motivates people to step up and strive for the common goal, that is to protect our precious environment by encouraging people to switch from ICE to EV.

LL: That's excellent, thank you Desmond for your time taking this interview! If anyone wants to chat with you online, where can they find you?

DW: My pleasure indeed to talk to you Locky and everyone who cares about the EV development.  There are Tesla chat groups on Naver LINE app called "Tesla LINE" and under Telegram app named "Tesla HK 車主討論會".   Feel free to jot down any questions or useful information and a lot of EV enthusiasts will certainly give you helpful and quick responses.

Charged Hong Kong Members' Stories #003 -- Mr. Ralph Ng

Ralph Ng and his Tesla Model S

To qualify as a true EVangelist, not only must one truly understand the science behind electric vehicles, they must also be actively engaged in educating the public. And if I were to name one Charged Hong Kong EVangelist off the top of my head, I will pick Ralph. Charged Hong Kong Members' Stories #003 has Mr. Ralph Ng sharing his story, with emphasis on Drive Electric Week 2015, on 29th March -- his birthday.

Here's our interview below:

Locky Law (LL): Hello everyone. I am pleased to have Mr. Ralph Ng with me for this interview today. Ralph is a very special guest as he was one of the major Evangelists at the first ever Drive Electric Week in Hong Kong organized by Charged Hong Kong last year. Hello Ralph! Thank you for coming and happy birthday!

Ralph Ng (RN): Thank you for your invitation, in fact it’s my honor being here and share my thoughts as an Evangelist.

LL: Ralph, before we go in-depth, would you please tell me a little about yourself?

RN: I used to live at Cloudview Road, North Point, because of my 4 dogs, 8 years ago I moved to Tuen Mun , a village house. I have 2 elder brothers, and I am the youngest, spoiled one. Thank god that my mother is 93 now and she is still going strong. We have a family with 4 generations. I was in the fashion business as an importer of top brands, and operated boutiques in the Peninsula Hotel, Landmark. With the globalization and market changed in the 90’s my business strategy, instead of being an importer, I worked closely with InvestHK and brought in brands from Europe, setup their Hong Kong-based Asia Pacific headquarters, before entering the Great China market. Now I am semi-retired, working as a consultant for an Indonesian group representing the Central Java Tourism Board, promoting their tourism business.

LL: That is incredible in every aspect! From our past conversations, I know that you are a car lover. But since when have you fallen in love with EVs and why the current one? What do you like about it?

RN: I am still an Internal Combustion Engine(ICE) car lover, the power and the sound thrill me. However the oil price, pollution and the unenvironmental-friendliness tell me that we have to change, not to say to save the world but at least not to make it worst. It was a love at first sight with Tesla. She definitely provides me (or all of us) a better quality of life in ALL respect.

LL: Talking about "She", I've had the luck to have met your wife and daughter at Hopewell Superchargers one time, and they only have the best praises for you, particularly on your devotion to EV and friends. Our LINE group expands quickly mainly because you just seem to be able to invite member after member, which is incredible! On average, how much time do you spend on promoting EVs a week?

RN: I don’t assign any particular time, but whenever I have a chance I encourage people driving EV like a preacher. What my wife said to you is true. Many times I am over enthusiastic, people might misunderstand me and think that I am doing it for some personal gains. I don’t care how they think; I just do what I believe. It’s true, I do gain, pure, long time friendship with those who understand my character.

LL: You know, one of the many reasons I respect Ralph is that he would actually welcome fellow members to use his home charging when needed, and although I haven't had the need myself, I still think this is an amazing gesture, given that charger-sharing is very rare in Hong Kong. What's your motivation?

RN: As I said "Charity starts at home." Hahaha….I enjoy meeting people….honestly, up to now no one ever come for emergency charge yet, which is a good sign, my motive is first, try release people’s charge anxiety. Second, if this message passes along, and more charger sharing, hopefully more people will give up ICE to EV. I will not give up any chances of promoting 'Drive EV' and that’s why I join Charged Hong Kong.

LL: Totally agree with you. I consider Ralph to be my mentor because he has taught me so much about public relations, marketing and event management, all within a matter of hours during our lunch one time! Could you please tell us how come you have so much valuable experience in these areas?

RN: I was major in Marketing, Human Behavior. I organized fashion shows, inauguration parties, staff training…for over 30 years.

Ralph EVangelising at Cathy City

LL: You've helped Charged Hong Kong's event from behind the scene many many times. In Hong Kong's first ever Drive Electric Week, you have been the most active participant in the event! Could you please tell us how it went? (for example, when it was, how many days you were there, how you promote it, how many people you have given test-rides to, rough estimate of how many people you have talked to including students, etc.)

RN: Drive Electric Week was from 12th to 20th September 2015. I was there 4 days giving rides for over a hundred people. It was about a total of over 1000km free rides I gave out. The most fruitful was not only the rides, but the chance explaining to over 100 school kids what EV is and how we can provide Hong Kong cleaner air. The schoolboys are our future. Credits should go to Mr. Core Lohse, the Secretary of Charged Hong Kong who organized the event at Cathay City, I was just a runner for that event. Good job, Core.

LL: You are absolutely a hero in disguise! What were some of the main questions visitors usually ask and how you answer those questions?

RN: "Where is the engine….", "How’s the consumption of gas?????", "What’s the advantage of driving an EV", all kinds of different questions showing how little knowledge they have with EVs. Education -- that’s part of the job Charged Hong Kong is doing now. For those questions I believe all of us, owners/drivers of an EV could easily answer with no hesitation.

LL: Were there any funny moments or memorable experience you can share with us?

RN: There were funny incidents I would like to share. During the party with Elon at Kai Tak, one Tesla owner approached me saying “ Hi, I remember you, while I was looking for parking space at Central, you waved to me telling me that you are about to leave and led me to where you parked and shifted your parking for me.” Since then we become friends. Incident 2, at Panda, my wife dropped her sunglasses. The one she likes most. A month later while I was at Panda again, a nice looking guy stopped my car and took out my wife’s glasses from a nice beautiful box, saying, “ Your wife dropped it last time while you were charging.” He remembers me because we moved out the car to another space immediately after finishing charge and gave him the space. What I am trying to say is nowadays, the parking and charging anxiety is growing to every EV owner, before more EV chargers developed we need to help each other, drivers of EV should learn the etiquette of charging your car in the public car parks, don’t just complain the ICE blocking the charge port, remember charity starts at home.

LL: Being a responsible EV owner is really important, and having good EV charging etiquette is really a must if we want to continue EVangelising. This bring me to my next question, I know you will be helping out at the FIA Formula E which will be held in Hong Kong this October, what can you tell us about the event?

RN: So far not much, as they are still selecting volunteers. There were over 1000 enrolled. Later on there will be field training at Canton.

LL: Wow, Canton, that's some distance to travel. So locally, in terms of events, what kind do you think Charged Hong Kong should focus more on this year or in the near future?

RN: May be Charged Hong Kong could arrange a gathering of 1000+ Tesla during the Formula E and make it a Guinness record, at the same time sign the petition urging our Government to do more on the charge parking, property owner incorporation, electric companies to install more home chargers, hopefully in the very near future to release the charging anxiety, get more EVs on the road.

Ralph

LL: Lastly, what personal advice do you have for future owners of EVs?

RN: I know people comment that the Tesla is a “Rich man’s toy” I would say on the contrary, It saves not only your money, but also our world. “Wow its so fast, 0-100 within 5 sec. what a super car” I would say its not a super car, its super fast not for racing though, the fast speed is to get you out and / or in time to stay away from danger. The future trend: Remember during the early 70’S there were people who hated and reluctant to accept having a portable phone…. what would happen to them if they insist still not having one. The EV is exactly like a Mobile phone with 4 wheels. That’s why they are called “Auto Mobile”. Now the Tesla get the Auto pilot, Auto assist lane change, etc,,etc,,a real “Auto Mobile” Final advice: Drive safely

LL: Thank you very much, for your mentoring and helping Charged Hong Kong past and present, and all the effort you have put in promoting EVs and Charged Hong Kong! We are very lucky to have you!

RN: Thank you.

Charged Hong Kong Members' Stories #002 -- Mr. Stark Chan & Ms. May Ha

May Ha and Stark Chan at Tesla Hong Kong's special event 

Charged Hong Kong Members' Stories #002. The first even numbered issue brings you one of the most promising pair of Hong Kong. They represent not only Hongkongers' creativity and "can-do" spirit, but also the city's hope for a better present and future. They are Mr. Stark Chan and Ms May Ho, CEO and Marketing Director of a mobile-application-development company, Bull-B.

Here's our interview below:

Locky Law(LL): May, Stark, pleasure to have you both here. I think a lot of people know Stark in Hong Kong, but still, could you please remind us how you first become well-known? May too, could you please tell us something about yourself?

Stark Chan (SC): I was living in Tuen Man. Electronic and engineering stuff are my hobbies. I used to love dismantling electronic appliances and toys. My parents divorced when I was around 8 years old and that gave me motivation to do well. It was also because of this that my creativity begins to develop. I kept joining science and engineering competition since I entered into Secondary School. In 2004, I invented a robot that applies face recognition technology for security purpose, then I joined Intel - International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in USA with this robot and won a second prize from this event . Because I was the first "overseas Chinese" who got best result in such as international competition, so MIT-Lincoln Laboratory presented a star that is named after my name "Chan Yik Hei Star".

May Ha (MH): I'm the only child in my family. I was living at Bridges Street, Sheung Wan when I was small. After 97 financial crisis, my family moved to Tin Shui Wai public housing . I love dancing. I started learning it since I was 13 years old. I can dance Jazz, Hip Hop, Latin and Pole. I graduated from Hong Kong Shue Yan University, majoring in Finance. I first met Stark at a church event. Since he wanted to join HKUST entrepreneurship competition at that time, he invited me to join this competition for the business parts. After this competition, we started our business - Bull.B Tech, which focuses on providing enterprise solution through mobile technology. We aim at enhancing customer engagement and enabling enterprises to facilitate their business in digital way.

LL: Incredible stories, thank you for sharing. If you don't mind I would like to ask, what kind of apps does your company produce? And any chance that we might see a Tesla-related app by your company in the near future?

SC: Our service mainly categorized as Fin Tech, e-commerce , loyalty and membership application. Our solution provided is very comprehensive from front application to back-end system. Recently, we are focusing on electronic applicants development. We plan to make more big idea on difference electronic appliances like apple watch..... We are already brainstorming any possibility to make a Tesla related app on Apple Watch . Will tell you more if we are ready to announce it.

May Ha at Charged Hong Kong Rally 2015 @Hotel ICON

LL: Brilliant! I'm sure our members will be very happy to support your app. Well, to be honest, I think this will come as quite a surprise for most of our Charged Hong Kong members that we actually have both of you celebrities as Charged Hong Kong members. Tell us how you got to know about Charged Hong Kong and why you decided to join our big family?

MH: It is an honor for us to join Charged Hong Kong. It is an amazing coincidence. Last year, we met one of the members of Charged HK called Lincoln at Cyberport while we were all waiting for Tesla Supercharging. We had a very nice chat there and he introduced us a lot about this charity. He invited us to join and that's what we did. The Charged HK Rally 2015 we joined last year was a very very good experience for us. We did not expect to win any prizes at the event but we did! And we met lots of new friends.

LL: Well, I was surprised too when I met you both that day! Too bad I had so much to do that we didn't have enough time to chat. So now is a great time to ask you both, is there a particular area you think Charged Hong Kong should put extra effort in this year, May, then Stark maybe?

MH: As members of Charged HK, we should do more on promoting EVs. Such as organizing some overseas tour ( visits Tesla headquarter in US). That kind of event is meaningful, and it also can effectively increase owners' engagement and loyalty.
SC: Other suggestions such as meeting with Town Planning Board or CLP, so that we can build up a better relationship with them. Hope it can foster development of public charging and Tesla Supercharging network.

LL: As we all know, Tesla’s Autosteer and Auto Lane Change have been approved by the Transport Department of Hong Kong, of course the fact that Elon’s meeting with the Chief Executive CY Leung and the Tesla’s perseverance have done wonders, but I dare say, both of you have contributed to the success as well by bringing up this issue public, and Stark, your comment about Tesla’s Autopilot and Uber was quoted by Apple Daily and earned praises all over internet. Could you tell us when that quote was and what meeting was that you were in when Apple Daily quoted you?

SC: First of all, we are happy for all Tesla owners that Autopilot has finally been approved in HK. I would like to thank M21 for inviting me to the online broadcast program and let me express my opinions. To be honest, I am just a "small potato" in this issue. Really thank the efforts from different organisations like the Innovation and Technology Commission, the media and the Tesla team. Otherwise, Autopilot would not be approved in such as short period of time.

LL: And May, as far as I know, you were with Stark in one of the meetings with Elon and our Chief Executive. Both of you were sitting very close to them, am I right? Is there anything you can tell us about in that meeting? Like, did Elon say anything that you can share with us here?

MH: This was a very casual talk between Elon and CEOs. There was another chit chat session between Elon and 7 young Entrepreneurs there. Stark is one of them.

LL: So actually, that week Elon was in Hong Kong, how many times have you actually met him?

MH: We saw Elon twice. One was at Tesla Event, another one was at government house.

LL: Any selfies with Elon? Side by side ones?

SC: Yes, there is this one we took (below), one on one.

Stark Chan with Tesla CEO Elon Musk

LL: That is awesome! Well, I believe you can really say, “Have you met Elon Musk before? I have, I really have,” more convincingly than any one of us in Hong Kong.

MH: Hi Hong Kong. We have really met Elon.

Stark with his Tesla Model S

LL: Haha! Nice! Okay, I think I have asked too much about Elon, let me bring the focus back to both of you. What was the reason you choose to buy an EV and why a Tesla Model S?

SC: I'm a tech lover, and this is a revolutionary car for me.

MH: This is a perfect car for female drivers. Everything is amazing, of course I believe woman love Autopark so much. Go green, love our planet!

LL: How often do you drive the EV now and where do you normally charge the car?

SC: We drive it everyday. Since we are businessman and businesswoman, we use it all the time for business meetings and networking events. We charge our car triweekly.

LL: Any problems with installing home chargers?

MH: Although Stark is living at village house, he still has problem with installing charges. It's because the parking is not located next to the house.

LL: Right, final question is kind of an open-ended one: Is there anything else you would like to tell our members and future EV owners?

SC: We love Tesla so much and we love meet new friends. Come to join us now.

LL: Thank you for your time and thank you for joining Charged Hong Kong! Like I always say to you on a personal level: Hong Kong really needs young and energetic people like both of you! We’ll see you soon on newspapers?

SC: Haha. Maybe. Thank you for the interview!

MH: Thank you, Locky!

Image from Tesla

Congratulations to Stark for being awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star two days ago!

Charged Hong Kong Members' Stories #001 -- Mr. Michael Chan

Michael Chan

The first of the Charged Hong Kong Members' Stories has been very popular on the Web and our members have been asking for more. Today, we have another Charged Hong Kong member sharing his story with us. His name is Michael Chan, co-founder of G.Guard (Hong Kong).

Here's our interview below:

Locky Law (LL): We are glad to have Michael with us today for the interview today. Michael is well-known in the car coating industry, for he runs G.Guard (Hong Kong) with his partner Kevin in Hong Kong. And then of course, there was also a grand prize G. Guard sponsored to Charged Hong Kong Rally 2015. Welcome Michael! Thank you for your time!

Michael Chan (MC): Thank you very much indeed for the invitation from Locky, the Charged Hong Kong's Tesla owner group representative, for having me here for one of these interview sessions. I am very grateful that there is an EV-dedicated organization in Hong Kong like Charged HK that has contributed to the EV community and EV growth in Hong Kong in many significant ways, and I would love to help out in any way possible!

LL: Thank you for introducing me too, Michael. I have just finished listening to your RTHK 3 interview and your Commercial Radio 903 interview by the famous Hong Kong actress and host “DoDo” Carol Cheng, who happens to be a huge fan of Tesla's Autopilot technology, so I dare say I am quite familiar with what you do, but for the benefits of our viewers, would you please tell us a little about your business?

MC: Long story short, coating is undoubtedly becoming one of the “to-do” things upon purchasing a new car nowadays. There are already many competent car coating companies in Hong Kong before we started so we took our time and did our research thoroughly before entering this market. We feel that most (if not all) of the current car coating companies apply their coating by hand and we wanted to find something else that has an edge over this application method, as there is no point in starting a new company that has the same technology as everyone else. In the end, we chose G.Guard that originated from Japan because of its ground-breaking penetrative coating technique and its unique application by spray guns.

LL: So, how does G.Guard differ from other 9H coatings?

MC: The G.Guard penetrative glass coating provides your car with an in-depth protection, as we do not only take care of the car surface but also the paint layer underneath that is normally neglected. We apply our coating by our specialised spray guns rather than the more traditional hand-application. Our research shows that penetration into the paint surface is vital in order to increase both the strength and substantiality of the top coat. This was exactly the edge and difference that we were looking for from the get-go. DoDo Cheng was actually very impressed with the end-result of our coating as she has previously done similar sort of treatment elsewhere but didn't have the "wow" factor back then when she collected her car.

LL: Well, she will probably visit your shop in the future, hopefully in her new Tesla. Anyway, how did you get into this car coating business in the first place? Because from the two interviews I mentioned, I do know that you actually hold 4 law degrees, in which 3 of them are in LLMs (Master of Laws)! 

MC: Kevin, my business partner, studied Chemistry in Oxford and yes, I have 4 law degrees from the UK, China and Hong Kong respectively. We met when we studied boarding school together in the UK when we were very young. More importantly, we are car lovers and car coating is basically applying chemistry onto a car and that’s why it seems to be a perfect combination of Kevin’s specialty and my interest. Besides, car coating is still a relatively new service here in Hong Kong with growing demand, that’s why we decided to start exploring this industry which has a huge potential market. As Kevin studied Chemistry at Oxford, this gives us an edge on fully understanding the chemistry behind coating and how it works in general.

LL: So why should I have my car coated?

MC: The primary purpose of glass coating is to act as a sacrificial barrier over the surface of your vehicle’s paint, while having its water-repellent properties and maintaining the level of glossiness. When there are contaminants that come into contact with the coating surface, it first has to get past all the layers of our glass coating before reaching the paint surface. It could be said that when your vehicle’s paint is under attack, the layers of glass coating sacrifices itself to protect your car.

LL: And you know this question because I have asked you before on LINE group, but, have you ever tried through a stone at high speed at a coated car body part? Because I have a paint chipped on my frunk cover now simply because a tennis ball-sized rock once hit it at high speed right outside Victoria Park on Island East Corridor.

MC: I get asked this question a lot by many prospective or current customers. Let's put it this way, silicon oxide [SiO2], or more commonly known as glass or glass coating, is not able to 100% deflect or protect from stone chip hits. You have to understand that our top coat will be the first point of contact when the stone chip hits your paint lacquer surface. This means our coating will “sacrifice” itself to protect from the incoming hit in the first place, but if the impact is very significant, say you are driving at 100km/h and a big stone hits your frunk, it is relatively difficult for coating to completely 100% protect your paint from the damage. That being said, a majority of our customers do say our coating does protect against smaller chips as we may simply polish off those small chip areas and the paint will look new again. So there is a yes, and a no in this answer. We always remind our customers that, in all truthful terms, the major purpose of having coating is for the paint to look and REMAIN looking shiny for a significant duration of time, while having its water-repellent properties for the ease of cleaning, washing and maintaining on a daily basis. Protection against stone chips is one of the minor things that our coating may protect against, but that is not 100%. I hope this clears up many of the queries that I know are present out there.

LL: I see. Now let’s say I have enough money to have my Tesla Model S coated, how many days do I have to miss my car before I can pick it up again?

MC: The whole coating process will take a minimum of 12 hours, and this increases by the different layers that our customer chooses, but as a general rule of thumb, we strongly recommend you to leave your car with us for at least 3 days. The reason for the length of time required is for the coating to settle completely under a closed ventilated area without any contaminants from outside air in order to reach the optimum quality.

LL: Right. I would surely miss my car a lot. Okay, let’s get personal. How many cars have you ever owned and how many do you still own now?

MC: My family currently has 3 cars: a Tesla Model S, a Jaguar XJL and a Toyota Alphard. My first car was a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX (Jackie Chan Limited Edition) and I got it when I was 18 in Hong Kong! It was one of my dream cars since young when you play those racing games on TV consoles, one of the main choices is almost definitely Evo. I was still studying in the UK back then so I only get to drive the car during holidays when I come back, but I have owned it for about 9 years until I came back to HK for good. Shortly after selling the Evo, I bought a Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG, which was technically labelled as the European Evo due to its unprecedented 2.0L engine that pushes out relatively big horses coming from Benz.

LL: And does your Tesla Model S mean anything special to you? Like, why this car? What’s so special about it?

MC: This is relatively long story but I will keep it short here. My dad has always been an EV fan as he once had his factory that manufactures EVs for 3rd world countries. He has always wanted to get a Tesla Roadster back in the days but it was relatively difficult to get one and then get it licensed in Hong Kong many, many years ago. When he saw Tesla having their own brand in HK, this goes without saying hyped up his desire to get a Tesla immediately. That was why we got a Model S. I personally think that EVs are definitely the future. Many brands such as Benz, BMW, Porsche are all beginning to make concept EVs which hints towards a cleaner future, and we would like to take part in this future as soon as possible!

LL: Nice! Next question is on EV charging. I doubt you have any problems with charging, since you can install charger at your shop easily, right? Then I believe that parking won’t be a problem for you either? Just park inside your workshop?

MC: When I first purchased the Model S, I was debating whether to install the charger at G.Guard or at my home (both were possible). In the end, I chose to install it at home as that’s where the car will be most of the time!

LL: How long do you think you’ll keep this car before getting a new one, and what will be your next car?

MC: I’m not sure how long I will be keeping this car for at the moment. It is likely that I may go with the RVG if I am able to keep within the mileage limit but we will have to see where this goes in 3 years’ time. Plus I’m sure Tesla will be introducing new models at a more frequent basis and I am looking forward to how the Model 3 will look! My next car that I have currently on order is an ICE from a German brand, so I’d better not mention it here to stir up controversies, haha.

LL: Finally, is there anything else you would like to tell our members and future EV owners?

MC: I know many Charged HK members have already had their cars coated with us during the past few months so a massive "thank you" to those who have shown your support to G.Guard. We appreciate it greatly, which is why we are offering a flat 10% off on all of our coating packages to Charged HK members to show our support to the EV community in Hong Kong. Do visit our Facebook page for more information.

LL: Thank you, on behalf of all Charged Hong Kong members. Well, that’s about all the time we have for the interview today. Thanks Michael, once again for all your support to Charged Hong Kong.

MC: You are welcome. Looking forward to seeing many of you guys very soon!

Charged Hong Kong Members' Stories #000 -- Mr. Johnny Siu

Johnny Siu

As Charged Hong Kong's Tesla owner group representative, I want to dedicate Charged Hong Kong's 1-year-old birthday to all our members who have contributed to the EV communities and the EV growth in Hong Kong in various ways. Charged Hong Kong Members' Stories is a series which aims to introduce our members and share their valuable experience with the world!

To kick off the series, I am glad to have Mr. Johnny Siu to be #000. He is #000 because he has recently joined the Charged Hong Kong committee and he deserves a number before number 1.

Here's our interview below:

Locky Law(LL): Johnny, thanks for accepting my interview. Some standard questions first: Could you please tell us something about yourself?

Johnny Siu(JS): I am Chartered Surveyor working in the civil services and will retire within a few years.  My entire family (4 members) joined the test drive of Tesla Model S and were all impressed by its performance.  Hence, place my order for 70D in April 2015.

LL: Tell us about your role at Charged Hong Kong.

JS: I am a founder member of Charged HK and also the coordinator of Public Charging Group.

LL: Thanks to you, Charged Hong Kong now has a lot more contact with the Government. Has it been difficult to arrange meetings with government departments, LegCo members and public utility companies?

JS: I have not encountered any difficulties in meeting these parties.  My experience with them, so far, is positive.  Although there have not been any significant improvements in public charging, I believe we are moving in the right direction.

LL: Do you have anyone in mind that Charged Hong Kong will meet in the next 6 months?

JS: I do really want to meet the property managers who are currently dealing with the Incorporated Owners.  EV owners are often facing difficulties in the installation of home charging facilities at their own parking spaces.

LL: Okay, this is a tricky question: what’s the odds of a FRT waiver extension?

JS: Similar to most of the countries in the world, FRT wavier / tax rebates are necessary to promote EV.  However, with the coming of low cost EV, FRT wavier may imply an overall increase in car population unless ICE are replaced by those low cost EV.

LL: Okay, let’s talk about you and your Tesla Model S again. How often to you drive it these days?

JS: I drive my Tesla daily and my mileage is only about 60Km per day.  I am the driver of my boss –wife.  Sometimes, my sons will drive my 70D as well (under my supervision).

LL: And I remember you have had your car coated, do you mind sharing your experience with that particular coating? You can name it if you want.

JS: I did the coating at Crystal Plating Kobo Limited.  It costed me $5,500 and is very nice.  This is the budget which I can afford.

LL: Where do you normally charge your car? How often? Any troubles with charging?

JS: I charged my Tesla daily at nearby Tin Hau Government multi-storey car park.  A 13A outlet will be good for me for overnight charging.  At this moment, I do not have any trouble in getting a 13A charging lot

LL: Is there anything else you would like to tell our members and future EV owners?

JS: EV is good in every aspects and also more environmental friendly.  However, before you make your purchase decision, do think about your driving habit and where will be the possible charging facilities for your EV.

LL: Thank you very much my friend! And congratulations for joining the Charged Hong Kong committee. We’ll see you at Charged Hong Kong meetings very soon!

JS: You are the most welcome.  Hopefully, I can contribute to the Public Charging Group.

Image from Tesla

Resources:
Tesla
https://www.facebook.com/teslamotors/posts/10153994393237801