What kind of vehicle has a green license plate starting with 'A'?

[Karl]

A green license plate starting with 'A' indicates that the vehicle is a pure electric vehicle. Green license plates are designated for new energy vehicles, and the license plate number can distinguish between pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. If the first character is the letter 'D', it signifies a pure electric vehicle. Additionally, plates starting with 'A', 'B', 'C', or 'E' also denote pure electric vehicles. If the first character is 'F', it represents a plug-in hybrid vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle. Plates starting with 'G', 'H', 'J', or 'K' also indicate plug-in hybrid or fuel cell vehicles. The background color for small new energy vehicle license plates is gradient green, while large new energy vehicle license plates have a yellow and green background. For small vehicle license plates, 'D' or 'F' is the first character in the serial number, whereas for large vehicle license plates, 'D' or 'F' is the last character in the serial number. As the government continues to promote environmental protection, the number of registered pure electric new energy small vehicles has rapidly increased. The original license plate numbering rules could no longer meet market demand, leading to the official introduction of 'A'-starting license plates for pure electric new energy small vehicles. New energy vehicle license plates measure 480*140mm, with the length increased by 40mm compared to standard license plates. For large new energy vehicles, the rear license plate width is reduced by 80mm. New energy vehicle license plates feature a green background. Small new energy vehicle plates transition from white to green from top to bottom, while large new energy vehicle plates have a yellow regional code at the front and a green six-digit area at the back, with the number of digits increased from five to six. New energy vehicle license plates are produced using pollution-free hot stamping methods, ensuring environmentally friendly manufacturing. They also incorporate anti-counterfeiting technologies such as QR codes, anti-counterfeiting watermarks, and laser patterns. Pure electric vehicles (BEV) are entirely powered by rechargeable batteries (such as lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, or lithium-ion batteries). These vehicles use an onboard power source to drive the wheels via an electric motor, meeting all road traffic and safety regulations. They have a relatively smaller environmental impact compared to traditional vehicles. According to the State Council's 'Energy-saving and New Energy Vehicle Industry Development Plan (2012-2020)', new energy vehicles mainly include pure electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles. Pure electric vehicles have shorter ranges, while fuel cell vehicles are less common. Plug-in hybrid vehicles are the most prevalent new energy models among domestic manufacturers. The most notable difference is in charging: plug-in hybrid vehicles have larger batteries that can be externally charged, allowing them to operate in pure electric mode. Once the battery is depleted, they switch to hybrid mode (primarily using an internal combustion engine) and recharge the battery as needed.

[DelBrantley]

A green license plate usually refers to those new energy vehicles in China where the first letter of the license plate number is A, such as plates formatted like JingA12345. In the new energy license plate system, green plates represent pure electric or plug-in hybrid models, primarily using a green background for easy identification of their environmental attributes. The initial letter A does not necessarily indicate the type of vehicle but rather signifies the vehicle's registration location or regional distribution, such as certain areas in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Shenzhen where the first letter of the license plate is set as A. However, don't forget that the key identifier for new energy vehicles is the second letter on the license plate: D stands for pure electric vehicles, and F stands for plug-in hybrid vehicles. Therefore, if a license plate starts with A, it only indicates its registration in a specific city but does not change its nature as a new energy vehicle. After driving such vehicles, I find that common models with A-starting plates include the BYD Han EV or Tesla Model 3 registered in Beijing, which are quiet and fuel-efficient. The promotion of green plates helps reduce pollution. When choosing a car, don't just look at the starting letter; check the vehicle's nameplate or official website to ensure the type matches, to avoid buying non-compliant vehicles that may affect registration.