Low-speed vehicles face clear-up

Six departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Development and Reform Commission recently released a notice on strengthening management of low speed electric vehicles.

According to the document, all governments in China must start rectification work on electric vehicles – which means stop new low-speed electric mobiles productivity and intensify regulation of the ones on the road.

Low-speed electric vehicles are tricycles and four-wheel vehicles with low driving speed and short driving range. Such vehicles normally have poor batteries and electrical machinery and are often used for carrying passengers and freight.

According to the statistics, the number of accidents involving low-speed electric vehicles accidents was 830,000 in the past five years. They caused 18,000 deaths and 186,000 injuries.

The document requires related departments in all regions to investigate local low-speed vehicles production companies and force those without a business license to close.

The document also says related departments must pass regulations to decrease the number of low-speed vehicles taking into account different local situations.