Vehicles running on alternative energy can help improve the air quality in Beijing, often worsened by the city's worsening traffic. (Photo : Reuters)
To boost the capital’s alternative energy auto industry, Beijing plans to invest an estimated tens of billions of yuan in new-energy cars, according to a report by the Economic Observer.
Zhao Jingguang, vice chairman of a Beijing-based alternative energy automobile industry association, said that the city government plans to incorporate high-technology and alternative energy industries as part of the national strategy toward the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area.
To do this, the local government will adjust its current industry development plan to include the improvement of alternative energy and new-energy car trends.
Zhao added that Beijing's new investment plan can create an ideal environment for the development of new-energy car manufacturing enterprises as well as spare parts manufacturers in the city.
According to data given by the association, there are currently over 18,000 pure electric vehicles roaming the streets of Beijing as of the end of June. This includes 8,360 private transport and 10,133 public utility vehicles.
Due to the increase in the number of new-energy cars in Beijing, more than 90 manufacturing enterprises that have set up shop in the city have also experienced increase in sales revenue, said Zhao. Making parts alone for pure electric vehicles has generated an estimated revenue of over 16 billion yuan.
To further promote the use of new-energy cars in the city, the Beijing government will implement a number of new measures, including the widening of its market to invite more choices of cars running on alternative energy. City authorities have also organized several promotional events to help boost new-energy car sales.
Purchase subsidies and tax breaks to new-energy car users, along with other policies, will also be introduced to encourage more people to purchase energy-efficient vehicles.
