China to Boost Government Purchases of New Energy Vehicles
03/02/2016
An assembly line producing electric cars is seen at a factory of Beijing Electric Vehicle, funded by BAIC Group, in Beijing, China, January 18, 2016. Image: REUTERS/KIM KYUNG-HOON
China will increase to more than half the ratio of purchases of new energy vehicles by some government departments, the State Council said on Wednesday, the latest move to boost green development in a country battling to rein in pollution.
The government has been pushing electric vehicles as a way of reducing the smog that frequently blankets Chinese cities, helping sales to quadruple last year.
"The annual purchase ratio of new energy vehicles for central government bureaus, city government departments with new energy vehicle promotions, and public institutions will be raised above 50 percent," the State Council, or cabinet, said in a statement on a meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang.
View of the charging facilities at the production site in Daxing district, Beijing, July 23, 2014. [Photo/IC]
But the statement on the meeting, posted on the government's website, gave no details of when the policy would take effect.
Enterprises, universities and research institutions will be encouraged to cooperatively achieve "revolutionary breakthroughs" in battery performance, and more investment and subsidies will be given to build battery charging facilities.
In addition, the share of new energy vehicles in the public transportation system will be increased with their quality enhanced.
The policies come as the central government looks to industry to push industrial upgrades, ease pressure on the environment and foster new growth engines.
