Subsidies for charging stations increased to boost green transportation

A green transportation action plan for the next three years was recently released by 12 government departments, including the Ministry of Transport, indicating a green transportation service system of rational layout, environmentally friendly, clean, low-carbon, intensive and efficient is expected to be preliminarily built by 2022 according to a report by Economic Information Daily.

The plan proposes 21 measures, one of which is to accelerate the construction on charging infrastructure.

Focusing on planning and construction of charging facilities and equipment for urban public transport hubs, parking lots and terminal stations, the construction of an appropriately advanced charging network system of high convenience and efficiency should be accelerated, the plan urged.

It encourages highway service areas to cooperate with relevant departments to promote the construction of charging service facilities.

In addition, subsidies for charging infrastructure will be increased and subsidies for purchasing new energy vehicles will be gradually shifted to the construction and operation of charging infrastructure. Various preferential policies will be promoted and implemented, according to the plan.

The measures also include promoting large-scale application of green vehicles. It plans to further promote the application of fuel-efficient vehicles and new energy vehicles in urban public transport, taxis, short-time vehicle rentals, short-distance road passenger transport, tourist attractions, airport and port ferries, government agencies and public institutions.

The subsidy policy for the industry's operation will be improved, and elimination of high-energy consumption and high-emission vehicles as well as illegally produced electric bicycles and low-speed electric vehicles will be accelerated.

The plan also proposes a rapid large-capacity passenger transport system consisting of high-speed railway, inter-city railway and suburban railway to be built in urban agglomerations and metropolitan areas, and the launch of passenger lines over 800 kilometers across provinces will be accelerated.

It encourages enterprises to provide passengers with return or connecting passage ticket services, and speed up the implementation of electronic tickets for connection transportation.

Cashless payment methods including QuickPass, virtual card payment and mobile payment are also encouraged in urban public transportation.