Are New Energy Vehicles Exempt from Traffic Restrictions Everywhere?

[DelConnor]

New energy vehicles are not subject to traffic restrictions. On June 6, 2019, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the Ministry of Commerce jointly emphasized that local authorities must not implement traffic restrictions or purchase limitations on new energy vehicles, and existing regulations should be abolished. Additional Information: 1. New energy vehicles refer to automobiles that utilize unconventional vehicle fuels as power sources, integrating advanced technologies in vehicle power control and driving systems, resulting in advanced technical principles and featuring new technologies and structures. 2. New energy vehicles include four main types: hybrid electric vehicles, pure electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, and other new energy vehicles. Unconventional vehicle fuels refer to fuels other than gasoline and diesel.

[CalebRose]

This depends on local policies, as there's no unified national standard. While the government does encourage new energy vehicles, and green-plate cars are indeed exempt from traffic restrictions in many areas, some major cities have stricter regulations. For example, Beijing requires pure electric passenger cars to comply with the odd-even license plate rule. In the old town areas of some tourist cities, to protect ancient architecture zones, even new energy vehicles are prohibited. Last time I drove my pure electric car to Hangzhou's West Lake core scenic area, I was stopped by security who said all vehicles must park in peripheral areas. So it's best to check the local traffic management app before traveling, and don't completely rely on green plate privileges.

[StJuliet]

Not all places are accessible without restrictions. Just two days ago, a friend drove their Tesla to Shanghai's Bund and found out that Zhongshan East Road prohibits even new energy vehicles during restricted hours. Most new urban areas in cities generally don't have restrictions, but old town areas, scenic spots, and school zones may have special control zones. Some locations also differentiate by vehicle type. For example, Chengdu only exempts locally registered pure electric passenger cars from restrictions, while out-of-town new energy vehicles still face limitations. For drivers frequently traveling to unfamiliar cities, it's recommended to set up the new energy vehicle license plate in map apps in advance, as navigation will then automatically avoid restricted routes.

[LaMakayla]

From my personal experience: There are basically no issues in areas below the prefecture-level city, but extra caution is needed in provincial capitals. Key sections like Beijing's Chang'an Avenue and Tianjin's Wudadao also impose restrictions on new energy vehicles. The other day, when I took my child to a key middle school for an exam, the area within 500 meters of the school was completely off-limits at all times, so my BYD Han had to be parked two kilometers away. It's also important to note that some cities have special regulations. For example, Chongqing stipulates that purely electric commercial vehicles must still comply with truck traffic restrictions, meaning electric delivery vans still need to obtain a traffic permit.