5 cities begin issuing special license plates for new energy vehicles

China began a pilot program to issue special license plates for new energy vehicles in five cities on Thursday, in an effort to promote such vehicles and relieve pressure on energy use and the environment.

In addition to Shanghai, the eastern cities of Nanjing and Wuxi, Jiangsu province, and Jinan, Shandong province, as well as the southern city of Shenzhen, Guangdong province, have been chosen as pilot regions where people can apply for license plates exclusively for their new energy vehicles.

For those who apply beginning Thursday, new plates will be issued, while owners of already registered new energy vehicles can decide whether to replace their plates, according to the Ministry of Public Security.