Can a 48V Mild Hybrid System Get a Green License Plate?
2 Answers
48V mild hybrid systems cannot get a green license plate. Only pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are eligible for green license plates. Green license plates are designated for new energy vehicles, specifically pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Conventional hybrid vehicles and gasoline-powered vehicles must use blue license plates. The main difference between plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and conventional hybrid vehicles is that plug-in hybrids require charging, while conventional hybrids do not. Plug-in hybrid vehicles have larger batteries and more powerful electric motors, enabling longer driving ranges in pure electric mode.
I've seen many car enthusiasts wondering whether 48V mild hybrid systems can qualify for green license plates in China. The answer is no. The 48V system is just a small auxiliary battery that helps the engine save some fuel, such as quickly restarting the engine during stop-start functions. However, it cannot rely on external charging to run dozens of kilometers on pure electric power like plug-in hybrids. I've test-driven several cars with 48V systems, and their fuel consumption did drop by about 10%, but the battery capacity is too small to meet China's new energy green license plate standards. To qualify for a green plate, the vehicle must be either a pure electric or plug-in hybrid with a minimum pure electric range of 50 kilometers. If you're aiming for a green plate to save on purchase tax, you might want to consider BYD's DM-i plug-in hybrid series—they are truly eligible for green plates. Remember, 48V is just a transitional technology to improve the performance of fuel-powered cars—don't be misled by marketing hype.
