China’s Hainan cements 2030 petrol-car ban, leading nation’s EV infrastructure push
New road map for the tropical free-trade hub highlights advancements in fleet electrification, creating a potential template for other provinces to follow
China’s tropical resort island of Hainan is solidifying its timeline to ban the sale of petrol-powered vehicles by 2030, heralding the beginning of the end for the internal combustion engine technology as the province, China’s largest free-trade zone, aims to spearhead the nation’s decarbonisation efforts.
Hainan’s move, the first of its kind among all localities in China, will force carmakers to accelerate electrification to maintain their presence on the island and reap free-trade-policy rewards, noted Lu Fengming, an assistant professor with the Department of Political and Social Change at the Australian National University, adding that some regions may eventually follow suit and introduce similar restrictions on sales or usage.
The ban was reiterated earlier this month in a five-year plan designed to transform the island into a national ecological civilisation pilot zone. The document stipulated the “steady implementation” of a ban on the sale of petrol vehicles in 2030, covering both private cars and those for the government and public service sectors. However, the plan did not clarify whether the restriction would affect the resale of used petrol-powered vehicles or be limited to the sale of new models.
Additionally, to address logistical bottlenecks such as inadequate charging facilities, Hainan aims to accelerate infrastructure buildout by 2030 to ensure that the ratio of electric vehicles (EVs) to charging points will be maintained at or below 2.5:1, meaning at least one charging booth for every three EVs.
The phased ban is expected to raise the share of EVs in Hainan’s vehicle fleet from the current level of 23.7 per cent to 45 per cent within five years.