Can out-of-town electric vehicles be used in Shanghai?
2 Answers
Yes, but there are restricted hours. Below are the restricted hours and areas in Shanghai: 1. Restricted hours: From 7:00 to 20:00 daily, the following roads prohibit the passage of small passenger cars with out-of-town license plates, small passenger cars with temporary license plates, unoccupied taxis, and small passenger cars driven by drivers in the probationary period (except Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays). 2. Yan'an Elevated Road (east of S20 Outer Ring Expressway); 3. North-South Elevated Road (from Humu Road to Luban Interchange); 4. Yixian Elevated Road (entire route); 5. Humin Elevated Road (entire route); 6. Middle Ring Road (entire route); 7. Huaxia Elevated Road (entire route); 8. Luoshan Elevated Road (entire route); 9. Resort Area Elevated Road (from Middle Ring Road to Xiupu Road section);
I drove my electric vehicle from Hangzhou to work in Shanghai, relying on it for my daily commute. At first, it seemed quite convenient—saving money and being eco-friendly. However, since last summer, Shanghai's policies changed, prohibiting out-of-town licensed electric vehicles from entering the city center, such as many areas within the Outer Ring Road. Police checks are frequent, and a 200-yuan fine is common. Once, my vehicle was even impounded, and it took a long time to retrieve it. Charging is also a hassle, with few public charging stations available, and my non-standard electric vehicle faces charging restrictions. Now, I try to take detours through suburban areas, spending more time and effort. If I plan to stay in Shanghai long-term, it might be better to switch to a locally licensed electric vehicle to avoid constant stress.
