
Fuel subsidies will still be available in 2021, but they will be gradually reduced. The related expenditures will no longer be linked to fuel consumption or oil prices. Below are the relevant policies for the 2020 national subsidies for new energy vehicles: 1. More gradual reduction in subsidies: The subsidy standards for 2020-2022 will be reduced by 10%/20%/30% respectively compared to the previous year, with reductions of 0%/10%/20% in the public transportation sector. For passenger vehicles, pure electric models will see a 10% reduction in 2020, while plug-in hybrid models will see a 15% reduction. 2. A three-month transition period is set: From April 23, 2020, to July 22, 2020. During the transition period, vehicles that meet the 2019 standards but not the 2020 standards will receive a subsidy of 0.5 times the 2019 standard, while vehicles that meet the 2020 technical standards will receive subsidies according to the 2020 standards. 3. A price threshold of 300,000 yuan is set (vehicles with "battery swap mode" are exempt from this regulation): The new subsidy policy stipulates that the pre-subsidy price of new energy passenger vehicles must be below 300,000 yuan (inclusive), and the price limit for subsidized vehicles will take effect after the transition period. 4. Fuel cell vehicles: Subsidies will shift from nationwide purchase subsidies to regional demonstration development, moving from broad management to focused efforts. Fuel cell vehicles are also one of the policy-supported routes. By the end of 2019, China had promoted over 6,500 fuel cell vehicles and built more than 50 hydrogen refueling stations. 5. The minimum driving range continues to increase: For pure electric passenger vehicles, the minimum driving range for subsidies in 2020 was increased from 250 km to 300 km. 6. The annual subsidy cap is set at 2 million vehicles.

Having driven gasoline cars for over a decade, honestly speaking, national-level fuel subsidies have basically stopped since 2021. But there are still ways to save money on daily refueling. For example, on Sinopec membership days, 92-octane gasoline can be 0.8 yuan cheaper per liter, and I use the Ping An credit card's "200 yuan off 20" refueling promotion every week. In some areas, taxi drivers can still receive operational fuel subsidies. Last month, Master Wang in our neighborhood just received 800 yuan at the transportation bureau. If you're in transportation, some cities still have subsidy policies for logistics vehicle refueling. It's best to check directly with the local transport management office. By the way, recent news says that phasing out National III diesel vehicles can get you a subsidy of over 10,000 yuan.

I was also concerned about this before buying a car. Government subsidies have indeed shifted entirely to new energy vehicles, with electric cars enjoying tax exemptions and green license plates. However, there are still hidden subsidies for fuel-powered cars. For example, in Shandong, gasoline is 0.5 yuan cheaper per liter after 8 PM, and you can exchange check-in rewards for fuel coupons on the CNPC app. In fact, the money saved on fuel car maintenance can be considered an indirect subsidy. My colleague's electric car needed a battery replacement costing 60,000 yuan, which is enough for me to buy five years' worth of gasoline. The Ministry of Transport's report last year showed an 87% reduction in local fuel subsidies, but the taxi industry retains special subsidy channels.

The most obvious comparison between our two cars at home is that my gasoline car now costs about 300 yuan more per month than my wife's electric car. Purely from the perspective of subsidy policies, 2021 was a turning point—the crude oil price subsidy mechanism was implemented in 2009 and officially terminated in 2021. However, private gas stations often run promotions. Last week, I saved 30 yuan filling up my tank in the suburbs. If you really want to save money, I recommend installing the TuanYou app to compare real-time discounts at nearby gas stations. Also, remember to download your local government app to check for special industry fuel subsidies.


