First batch of electric cars hits Shanghai streets

Eight car owners mounted license plates on the first batch of privately-owned electric car owners in Shanghai on April 6.

"Given the high oil prices, the cost of driving gasoline cars is too high, while the cost of driving electric cars is much cheaper," said Ms. Huang, who works as an accountant.

She calculated, "My electric car costs me about 10 yuan per 100 kilometers, 50 yuan cheaper than a gasoline car."

She added that it will be convenient for her to charge the electric car at charging posts and stations that are being built near her office and will soon be built in her residential community.

"I bought my electric car for only 120,000 yuan thanks to a rather large amount of government subsidies the car enjoys," she said.

The development of various types of infrastructure projects at the Shanghai International Automobile City is currently in full swing in order to accelerate the construction of the international electric vehicle demonstration zone.

The construction of supporting facilities covering a total area of 100 square kilometers will be completed by the end of 2011, and charging infrastructure will cover the entire demonstration zone in Jiading District by the end of 2012.

By Zhang Hongyu, People's Daily Online

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