The Consumer Council on Wednesday urged charging service providers to improve transparency following complaints about electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities across Hong Kong.

The watchdog received 179 complaints last year on issues such as unstable power supply, insufficient charging spots and fee disputes.

In one case, an EV owner found his overnight charging sessions had been interrupted and his vehicle was left without sufficient power.

Another complainant reported she was charged HK$150 in idle fees without being notified – nearly ten times the actual charging cost.

The council’s chief executive, Gilly Wong, said service providers should explain the way they set fees.

"This is a free market, they can charge according to different business models. It could be charged by kilowatts, it could be charged by time, or it could be charged by a monthly plan,” she said.

“We urge the service providers to align and standardise the unit that they use."

The council reminded EV owners to carefully review charging plans and pricing details before use, and to promptly vacate charging spots to avoid idle fees.