Beijing’s new incentives for electric vehicle use

The authorities in China’s capital Beijing are introducing further measures in a bid to encourage the use of electric vehicles. The latest move is to exempt electric vehicles from road tolls and parking charges. New charging facilities are being introduced with 22g charging stations, while electric vehicle owners are also exempt from other restrictions on use that apply to internal combustion engine vehicles such as the numberplate rule. This last allows vehicles to be used only on alternate days depending on whether they have an odd or even license plate. The moves are already having an effect and are seeing more Beijing residents buying electric vehicles. There were 5,091 electric cars registered in Beijing in the first six months of 2015. The move to electric vehicles is intended to help reduce pollution in Beijing.