Hangzhou to create 600-unit EV fleet
Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang province, plans to add 600 electric cars this year to the city's taxi fleet.
Hangzhou will be the second Chinese city to use electric cars as taxi cabs, following the south China city of Shenzhen.
In January, the city took delivery of the first batch of 30 electric cars supplied by two Chinese automakers, Zoyte Holding Group and Haima Automobile Co. Their EVs have a maximum range of 70 to 80 kilometers.
To support the use of electric taxis, the local utility company plans to double the number of large charging stations to six this year. It also expects to build 50 to 100 battery replacement outlets in the city.
Last June, Beijing enacted a pilot EV program in Hangzhou, Shenzhen and three other cities. Under the program, purchasers of plug-in hybrids will receive up to 50,000 yuan ($7,600), while buyers of pure electric vehicles will receive up to 60,000 yuan.
Last year, BYD Co. sold 30 e6 electric cars to a taxi company in Shenzhen, where BYD is headquartered.
