Are Hybrid Vehicles Eligible for Green License Plates?
2 Answers
Hybrid vehicles are not eligible for green license plates; they still require blue license plates. The characteristic of hybrid vehicles is that they do not need to be charged and do not have a pure electric driving mode, operating exactly like conventional fuel-powered cars. Although hybrid vehicles are equipped with a battery pack and an electric motor, the battery capacity is very small, and the electric motor only serves to slightly reduce the engine's workload. Therefore, hybrid vehicles are only slightly more fuel-efficient than conventional fuel-powered cars. Hybrid vehicles offer high fuel economy and superior driving performance. The engine in a hybrid vehicle still uses fuel, but during startup and acceleration, the assistance of the electric motor helps reduce fuel consumption. The internal combustion engine can be shut off, allowing the battery to drive the vehicle alone, achieving zero emissions.
I remember when I was choosing a car, I also thought that hybrid vehicles could get green license plates, since they sound environmentally friendly. However, when I actually went to register the car, I realized I was mistaken. At the time, I had my eye on a Toyota hybrid—fuel-efficient and quiet—but when I asked at the vehicle management office, the staff informed me that regular hybrids don’t qualify as new energy vehicles. Only plug-in hybrids are eligible for green plates. Green plates are mainly issued to pure electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, or fuel cell vehicles, offering benefits like exemption from purchase tax, priority road access, or even free parking in some cities. Although regular hybrids are also fuel-efficient, their electric motors are charged by the engine and cannot be externally charged, so they don’t count as new energy vehicles. Later, I learned that plug-in hybrids can run dozens of kilometers in pure electric mode and have lower emissions, which meets the standards. Before buying a car, it’s best to confirm whether the model can be charged. Like me, taking unnecessary detours wastes time and money, so I’m sharing this to help others avoid the same pitfalls.