Nantong in Jiangsu province has become one of the 25 cities chosen to pilot new energy-powered vehicles. This is part of an ambitious plan by the central government to promote new energy fuel across China. Between now and 2012, each of the cities will deploy about 1,000 new energy-powered vehicles – either buses, taxis or official cars – as part of a scheme that envisages new energy-powered vehicles accounting for 10 per cent of the national market by end of 2012.

In Nantong, the central government will subsidise the local government for deploying new energy-powered vehicles used in public transport, public services such as street cleaning, and postal and taxi services.