Charging posts at Beijing Capital Airport. The city is in need of sufficient charing facilities. (Photo/China Daily)
(ECNS) - Fueled by favorable policies, new energy vehicles are so popular among Beijing buyers that a lottery system may be needed to distribute ownership, the Beijing Morning Post has reported.
Individual applications to purchase new energy vehicles soared to 7,141 from 3,874 in the last term, an 84 percent increase, according to the Beijing private car ownership authority. In addition, 561 organizations have also applied to buy 1,505 new energy vehicles.
Initially, there were only about 600 individual applications to buy new energy vehicles. However, about 18 months later the number had increased to 7,141.
The dramatic increase in applications sparked speculations that a lottery system may need to be introduced.
Currently there are 5,697 purchase quotas for new energy vehicles, including 3,333 from this term and 2,364 from the last term. The discrepancy between applications and quotas probably means that more than 1,000 applicants will be unable to buy a new energy vehicle this time. The final quota number, which is still under review, will be released June 25.
"I've never won the lottery to buy a regular car," said a man surnamed Song from Beijing. "I thought a lot about applying for a new energy vehicle. What if the new energy vehicle lottery is also hard to win in the future?"
Song is also worried about a shortage of charging facilities. Faced with such difficulties, some applicants renounced their quotas to buy new energy vehicles after winning the lottery.
Applications to buy regular cars have also increased to an historic high of more than 2.5 million, which is an increase of 117,928 from last term.
