China to apply special license plates for new energy vehicles nationwide

An employee of the Jinan vehicle administration department installs a plate on an electric car in Jinan, Shandong province, on Dec 1, 2016.[Photo: China Daily/ by Xu Suhui]

The Ministry of Public Security has announced the approval of special license plates for new energy vehicles nationwide. 

CRI's Yu Yang with more.

Different from the conventional blue license plates, the special license plates for new energy vehicles are green, and are adorned with a symbol designed to represent new energy, as well as an additional digit. 

Each of the new license plates also has a QR code, an anti-counterfeiting mark and a laser pattern. 

Sun Zhengliang, research fellow with the Traffic Management Research Institute with the Ministry of Public Security, says the new technology is meant deter counterfeiting.

"In this way, we can trace the source, check out who purchased the license plate, when it was made, and who it belongs to. It will help us find out fake or irregular plates and solve a series of other problems," said Sun.

As far as registration is concerned, new energy vehicle owners will be able to apply via vehicle management registration websites or through a smartphone app. 

Wang Qiang, deputy director of the Traffic Management Bureau with the Ministry of Public Security, says people who currently own a new energy vehicle will be able to replace their current plates or keep their existing ones. 

"It's a voluntary choice. You can choose to change your plate for the new one or not. You can apply for the plate at the vehicle management registration sites or log on our online platform where we provide service for you to book online stores. Then you can choose the time and location. But for new energy vehicles that come from other places, we will automatically issue the special license plates," said Wang. 

Traffic authorities are also establishing an information system for new energy vehicles, which are still being given preferential treatment here in China.

There are now over one million new energy vehicles on the roads in China.

The new energy license plate system was first launched in five test cities last year, namely Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuxi, Jinan and Shenzhen.

Authorities hope to have the new energy license plates rolled-out across China through the first half of next year.

Production and sales of new energy vehicles is expected to surpass 5 million by 2020.