It is the world’s largest automotive market – and it’s deeply serious about electric cars and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
China’s State Council (pictured) will attempt to accelerate its promotion of the vehicles and more efficient internal combustion engines in an effort to ease pressure on both energy and the environment; while upgrading the automotive industry; and boosting economic growth.
Its target is to have 500,000 plug-in vehicles on its roads in 2015; and to increase this number to a whopping five million by 2020. It also wants to reduce average fuel consumption of passenger cars from 34mpg in 2015 to 47mpg in 2020.
Now it has issued a statement outlining the four steps it needs to take to achieve these goals. These include: establishing a research and development system to allow for breakthroughs in popular technology; to launch pilot demonstrations and support private purchases of new energy vehicles; to build fast charge facilities and develop battery recycling; and to improve tax and fiscal policies to make them more conducive for the market.
