Buyers of new energy vehicles (NEVs) will get license plates without having to apply through the usual lottery system, according to the announcement of the State Council from September 29th 2015 aimed at promoting greener cars.

“These measures are aimed at relieving China’s energy and environmental pressure, boosting green vehicle production and consumption, and fostering new growth areas”.

There is a clear encouraging message for individuals, but not only: China will also encourage local governments, public institutions and bus companies to use more new-energy vehicles. Indeed, even growing fast, the Chinese market isstill reluctant to NEVs due to exorbitant prices and inconvenient charging ; besides, production costs remain high and technologies are not yet mature.

Other measures to promote NEVs:

• 1/2 purchase tax on on passenger vehicles with a displacement of less than 1.6 liters from October 1st 2015 to December 31, 2016.
• Removal of old and highly polluting vehicles by 2017.
• Government subsidies to cover EV R&D and production costs of domestic auto manufacturers.
• Build more charging stations in urban areas and fast-charge facilities between cities: in the Jing-Jin-Ji megacity, the agreement was taken early August “to jointly build a network of charging facilities for the use of new-energy vehicles”
• Requirement for new residential complexes tobuild charging stationsor at least save space for them.
• No less than 10 percent of public parking lots should have charging facilities.
• Tax incentive and land support to encourageprivate investment in the charger-building plan.

Chinese new energy vehicles market

China isthe largest new vehicle market in the world since 2005. China has initiated the Thousands of Vehicles, Tens of Cities (TVTC) Program to accelerate the new energy vehicle (NEV) commercialization, in order toaddress the energy supply issueand air-pollution concerns.

According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), from January 1st to August 31st 2015,118 020 new energy vehicles were produced in China, a significant increase comparedto the same period in 2014: 108,654 units.

NEVs could also be a solution to curb the slow down of the Chinese automobile market: bothproduction and sales year-on-year dropped in 2015.

Note: NEVs refers to battery-electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV), and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. BEVs represent the largest part.

Evs charging stations in Beijing

EVs charging stationscan be found at shopping centers, office buildings, parking areas, airports, service areas, parks, technology parks and transportation stations.

In February 2015, Beijingwas operating1,425 public charging stations that are situated in nearly 200 locations.

Navigation systems such as Garmin have integrated EVs stations in their system. I-phones also offer this function.

If you are an Expat living in Beijing and if you hold a Chinese driving license, you can buy a NEV without worrying about a licence plate number! And there is another good thing with NEVs in Beijng: you don’t have license plate number related restricted use or in other words, you can drive any single day of the week!

Last but no least, note in your agenda theEV innovation summithold in Beijing fromOct 20-26th 2015 and the Formula E race also in Beijing on Oct 24th 2015.

Sources:

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/business/auto/No-lottery-for-license-plates-for-evehicles/shdaily.shtml

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2015-09/30/content_22023422.htm

http://cleantechnica.com/2015/03/30/tesla-approved-for-special-license-plates-in-shenzhen/

http://en.yibada.com/articles/13430/20150213/greater-convenience-for-beijings-electric-vehicle-owners-as-new-charging-stations-open.htm#ixzz3nDnBNluz

http://www.mckinseychina.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/McKinsey-China_Electric-Vehicle-Report_April-2015-EN.pdf?bd0bde