THE city has set out specific measures on applications for quotas for vehicles purely powered by electricity to stimulate the development of the industry.

    The rule, which takes effect this June, allows residents in Shenzhen, who have owned a car to apply for a quota for a pure electricity-powered car, but they cannot apply for hybrid-powered cars. The rules also apply to corporate applicants. Car owners who already own a pure electricity-powered car can apply for a gasoline-powered car. But those who own hybrid-powered vehicles aren’t eligible for a gasoline-powered car.

    Shenzhen set a ceiling of 100,000 vehicle quotas a year including 20,000 quotas for new-energy vehicles, such as pure electricity-powered vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles since January 2015, in a move to control the increase of cars.

    Despite the quotas for new-energy vehicles remaining unchanged, the new rule, which further divides applications for pure electricity-powered vehicles and hybrid-powered vehicles, gives priority to the development of purely electric vehicles.

    At the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao International Auto Show, which ended at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center last week, the Shenzhen BYD Automobile Co. had deals for 100 electricity-powered vehicles.

    “This indicates that many potential buyers have started considering pure electricity-powered vehicles, which enjoy subsidies and preferential policies from Central and local governments,” a BYD car dealer, surnamed Wu, said. Wu said that the sales of electric vehicles could rise because of the rule and other preferential policies from the government.

    Many car buyers have shunned electric vehicles because of worries about their driving range. BYD displayed its EV300 and e5 300 models at the automobile fair with prices ranging from 209,800 to 309,800 yuan (US$31,848 - 47,028).

    The batteries of the two models can sustain a distance of 300 kilometers, enough for commuters and long-distance drivers. A test showed that the EV300 distance sustainability could reach 349. 5 kilometers, double the round trip between Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen and the Tianhe Long-distance Bus Terminal in Guangzhou.

    The new rule wants more residents to buy pure electricity-powered vehicles to save energy and reduce emissions. In Shenzhen, electric car buyers can enjoy up to 134,000 yuan in subsidies from local and Central governments. The Shenzhen Bus Group will replace 3,500 buses with pure electricity-powered buses this year.(Han Ximin)