BEIJING, Sept. 29 -- Buyers of new energy vehicles (NEVs) will get license plates without having to apply through the usual lottery system, under plans announced by the State Council on Tuesday to promote greener cars.

China will also encourage local governments, public institutions and bus companies to use more NEVs, according to a statement released after a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang.

Purchase tax on passenger vehicles with a displacement of less than 1.6 liters will be halved from Oct. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2016, and the government vowed to quicken the phasing out of old and highly polluting vehicles. All such vehicles will be taken off the road by 2017, according to the statement.

"These measures are aimed at relieving China's energy and environmental pressure, boosting green vehicle production and consumption, and fostering new growth areas," it said.