48V Mild Hybrid: Blue License Plate or Green License Plate?
2 Answers
48V mild hybrid vehicles are the same as regular vehicles and require a blue license plate. Only pure electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid vehicles are eligible for green license plates. Principle of mild hybrid vehicles: It essentially involves adding a 48V electric motor to a fuel-powered car. This motor assists the engine during vehicle startup, resulting in improved smoothness, enhanced fuel efficiency, and reduced fuel consumption. Pros and cons of mild hybrid vehicles: While it offers smoother starts and relatively lower fuel consumption, its selling price is slightly higher than that of pure fuel-powered vehicles.
I remember being quite hesitant about choosing a 48V mild hybrid back when I was car shopping. The dealer said it saves fuel but doesn’t qualify as a new energy vehicle, so I ended up getting a regular blue license plate. Government regulations stipulate that green plates are only issued to pure electric, plug-in hybrid, or fuel cell vehicles—those capable of driving over 50 km on electric power or external charging. The 48V system is just an auxiliary setup, adding a small motor to assist with start-stop and acceleration, but it can’t be charged or run far on electricity alone, so it’s classified as a fuel-powered vehicle. This has significant implications—blue plates don’t get the perks of green plates, like subsidies, tax exemptions, or exemption from driving restrictions. After driving for half a year, I’ve saved some on fuel, around 15%, but the lack of license plate benefits is annoying. My advice is to check the MIIT list when buying a car to confirm the plate type—don’t just believe the ads. Policies are uniformly enforced nationwide unless future tech upgrades relax the standards. Overall, 48V is economical and practical, with simple maintenance and no charging hassle, but don’t expect new energy vehicle perks.
