How many private charging stations are there in Macao?

As a result, only 130 private charging stations have been installed in Macao over the past five years. Leong has asked the government to help install charging stations in more public spaces and even help residents install them in private car parks.

Does China's Energy Strategy work for Macao?

According to the National Energy Administration of China, the share of clean and renewable energy in China’s electricity generation has almost doubled over the past decade, surging from 13 per cent in 2011 to 24.3 per cent in 2020. This bodes well for Macao. “Developing solar and wind energy has become China’s core energy strategy,” he says.

Does Macao need an EV charging system?

For starters, he believes Macao needs to optimise its EV charging systems. The city currently has 200 charging spaces across 42 public car parks and seven streets, according to the Macau Electricity Company (CEM), Macao’s sole energy service provider.

Are molten salt batteries the new 'inferior alternative'?

Molten salt batteries aren’t a new concept. They’ve been around for 50 years, but they’ve been an ‘inferior alternative’ with a short energy life cycle. But this new battery is different. Scientists altered the electrodes to improve the reactivity of the sulphur - a key element determining storage capacity.

Could sea salt be a scalable alternative to lithium ion batteries?

Because sea salt is everywhere, it could provide a scalable alternative to lithium ion batteries. “When the sun isn’t shining and the breeze isn’t blowing, we need high-quality storage solutions that don’t cost the Earth and are easily accessible on a local or regional level,” Dr Zhao said.

Are EVs a greener option for Macao?

Despite the potential pitfalls, Hongcai Zhang, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Macau, believes that EVs are a much greener option for Macao than petrol cars in the long run, since they will be increasingly powered from electricity generated from renewable energy sources.