China releases guidelines for new energy vehicles

Shanghai, October 26, (Gasgoo.com) – China National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s all powerful economic policymaker, has laid out a set of rules regarding the research, production, technical standards and market access of new energy vehicles.

 

New energy vehicles include hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, fuel-cell electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, according to official explanation. .

 

The guidelines, known as "Rules on Production Permission and Market Access of New Energy Vehicles" will become effective on November 1 this year. Under the rules, automakers are required to obtain government permission before it can proceed with any production.

 

The guidelines have laid out 15 “hurdles” that a new energy vehicle manufacturer has to clear before obtaining a production permit. Among them, new energy vehicle manufacturer has to grasp at least one of the following three key technologies: the on-board energy supply system, the driving system and the control system.

 

The development of new energy vehicles are divided into three phrases—trial production, limited production and mass production phrases. Manufacturers are allowed to make a small number of new energy vehicles in the trial production; next they will be allowed to produce a limited number of vehicles to be used under certain restrictions; in the mass production, new energy vehicles will be used widely as conventional vehicles.

 

Jia Xinguang, a veteran auto expert, called on government to offer policy incentives, like lower tax and research grants to support the development of new energy vehicles.