But, is an electric car a good buy now?

Can a long-standing auto journalist not own a car? Well, sometimes, ironies mark life, don't they? Not that I can't afford a car. But - there it is, the big "but" - I've been unlucky. Beijing's license plate lottery system hasn't been kind to me.

Beijing has some 2.9 million individuals registered on that system, whereas only some 40,000 gasoline car plates are available this year. Mine is yet to figure among them.

I have even considered applying for a new energy car number plate instead. But (there it goes again), you've to join a long queue for that. And, I, like the 2.9 million people, can't get rid of the mileage anxiety, an unwanted emotion.