Are Hybrid Vehicles Eligible for New Energy License Plates?
2 Answers
Hybrid vehicles can obtain new energy license plates, but not all hybrid vehicles are eligible for them. Here is an introduction to hybrid vehicles: 1. Fuel Hybrid Vehicles (Cannot Get Green Plates): Fuel hybrid vehicles utilize the electric motor minimally but most flexibly, requiring higher technical standards. They are commonly found in foreign joint-venture models. During normal driving, these vehicles rely on the engine for propulsion, while the electric motor is only used during startup or low-speed driving. When encountering slopes or rapid acceleration, both the engine and electric motor work together to drive the vehicle, utilizing excess engine power to charge the battery. The advantage is that they do not require charging and are fuel-efficient; the downside is their higher cost and ineligibility for new energy license plates. 3. Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (Eligible for Green Plates): Compared to fuel hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrids feature an additional charging port for external charging. Their internal design and technical requirements are lower, but they have larger battery capacities and longer pure electric driving ranges. These models are highly promoted in China, enjoying substantial subsidies and exemptions from traffic restrictions and license plate limitations. Their advantages include fuel efficiency, even more so than fuel hybrids, but the downside is the need for frequent charging and higher fuel consumption when running solely on gasoline. 4. Range-Extender Hybrid Vehicles (Eligible for Green Plates): Range-extender hybrid vehicles are a variant of plug-in hybrids. They can be charged via an external power source and use the engine to generate electricity, which powers the electric motor for propulsion. When the battery is sufficiently charged, the vehicle operates in pure electric mode. When the battery is low, the onboard engine starts to drive the generator, charging the battery to supply power to the electric motor (i.e., range-extending mode).
Whether you can get a green license plate for a hybrid car now mainly depends on the type. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs, the ones with charging ports) are currently recognized as new energy vehicles by the state and can enjoy the green license plate policy. These cars can easily run dozens of kilometers in pure electric mode for daily urban commuting and are exempt from purchase tax. However, conventional hybrid vehicles like Toyota's non-plug-in hybrids (e.g., Toyota Dual Hybrid) can only get regular blue license plates. I recommend checking the MIIT's new energy vehicle catalog before buying a car or directly asking the 4S store salesperson for a copy of the vehicle qualification certificate, which clearly states the details.
