Support for SMEs

To subsidise and further encourage trial and wider use of green innovative transport technologies.

New Energy Transport Fund comprises two streams, namely Applications for Trial and Applications for Use.

Applications for Trial (AT)
AT subsidises trial of green innovative transport technology which:

• works on sound scientific principles;
• outperforms its conventional counterpart by emitting significantly less air pollutant or greenhouse gas, or demonstrating much better fuel economy. However, regular upgrading of emission performance of conventional fossil fuel transport tools in accordance with the prevailing international standards (e.g. European standards) should not generally be qualified for application;
• has not been commonly or widely used for day-to-day operation in the relevant transport trade locally;
• is affordable to the transport trades in respect of capital and operation costs;
• is likely able to cope with the local operating conditions such as hilly terrain, hot and humid climate, intensity of operation, etc.;
• does not violate any statutory requirements such as roadworthiness, fire safety, etc. and can satisfy the approval requirements of the relevant regulatory authorities;
• is not for research purpose; and
• is not covered under the Applications for Use of the New Energy Transport Fund.

AT of new energy transport products (vehicles and vessels) only subsidises the capital cost of the hardware of the green innovative technology product proposed for trial. For AT of retrofitting conventional transport tools (diesel, petrol or liquefied petroleum gas vehicles and vessels), in addition to the capital cost of the hardware, the subsidy also includes the conversion and installation cost. AT does not subsidise the associated recurrent expenditure.

The total AT subsidy for each applicant and its related companies is capped at HKD12,000,000. The cap cannot be combined with the subsidy cap of HKD12,000,000 for Applications for Use of the New Energy Transport Fund, and vice versa. 

Applications for Use (AU)

AU supports wider use of green innovative transport technology which:

• proved under the Applications for Trial (AT) of the New Energy Transport Fund (the NET Fund) to be relatively mature and suitable for adoption locally. The types of technology or product included in AU will be removed from the scope of AT.
• outperforms its conventional counterpart by emitting significantly less air pollutant or greenhouse gas, or demonstrating much better fuel economy;
• has not been commonly or widely used for day-to-day operation in the relevant transport trade locally;
• is affordable to the transport trades in respect of capital and operation costs; and
• does not violate any statutory requirements such as roadworthiness, fire safety, etc. and can satisfy the approval requirements of the relevant regulatory authorities.

The total AU subsidy for each applicant and its related companies is capped at HKD12,000,000. The cap cannot be combined with the AT subsidy cap of HKD12,000,000, and vice versa.

Applications for Trial (AT)

An AT applicant must be an existing transport operator based in Hong Kong (including cross-boundary transport) who:

• operates commercial transport tools including goods vehicles (including special purpose vehicles), taxis, light buses, buses, vessels, motorcycles, non-road vehicles (applicable to vehicle models approved by the Transport Department or the Airport Authority Hong Kong), or the aforesaid transport tools of charitable/non-profit making organizations providing services to their clients;
• has been in the relevant transport service for more than one year with supporting documents to show at least one-year ownership/use of the conventional counterpart of the green innovative technology product proposed for trial;
• will likely remain in the service after the trial to bear fruit;
• has the potential to put the new technology under test into wider use in its own operation upon successful trial;
• has already installed or will apply to install its own charging station in the same application to support daily charging of the subsidised product if it is an electric or plug-in hybrid ones, unless it is exempted by the Government;
• is willing to share with other operators the findings of the test of subsidised product;
• is not receiving or has not received funding from other Government sources, public bodies or charitable organizations for the same purpose of the application, except the tax incentive schemes to encourage the use of electric vehicles and environment-friendly commercial vehicles;
• is not a supplier or manufacturer of green innovative technology product proposed for trial, or its related companies*.

Applications for Use (AU)

An AU applicant must be an existing transport operator based in Hong Kong (including cross-boundary transport) who:

Applications for Trial (AT)

Applications for Trial (AT) are open all year round. Applicant has to fill out the application form (including signatures and company chop) and submit it together with the required supporting documents by the following means:

• Online application
• By post or by hand:
  The New Energy Transport Fund Secretariat
  Environment and Ecology Bureau (Environment Branch)
  33/F, Revenue Tower
  5 Gloucester Road
  Wan Chai, Hong Kong
• By e-mail: netf@eeb.gov.hk (Note: For application submitted by email, the total file size of the attachment is limited to 10Mb and the file format must be .docx, .jpg or .pdf)

Applications for Use (AU)

The New Energy Transport Fund Secretariat will provide the Guide to Applications for Use and application form(s) in due course.