Shanghai, November 9 (Gasgoo.com) In Shanghai, a free license plate may be issued to the buyer of an eco-friendly alternative-energy vehicle starting next year, Shanghai Daily reported on Saturday, citing a government official.
This move is aimed to speed up the city's development of green vehicles and also make skies cleaner for the millions of visitors to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
"We are considering offering free car licenses for new-energy vehicles that meet certain standards," said an official in charge of promoting new-energy vehicles in Shanghai. Auto buyers in the city, without buying a plate through the existing auction scheme, could register their green cars, he said.
Spearheading a nationwide campaign, Shanghai is determined to promote green vehicles, including gas-electric hybrids and all-electric cars, as the Chinese government addresses energy and environmental challenges.
New green cars don't appeal to many Chinese consumers because of higher purchase costs. The lack of infrastructure, such as charging stations, and safety concerns about new technologies, are also major hurdles.
Shanghai hopes free car plates would partly offset the higher purchase costs and draw more buyers to the energy-saving, less-polluting vehicles.
The cheapest car plate in Shanghai sold for 33,900 yuan ($4,970) at last month's auction, and the price is likely to rise amid robust auto sales.
