Beijing's smog ignites rush for electric cars which are not barred from hitting the road on 'red alert' pollution days

The heavy smog shrouding Beijing is proving to be a boon for China's nascent electric car market, with some dealers saying inquiries about all-electric models are up by almost a tenth.

Beijing issued a first pollution “red alert” on Monday and set out measures to combat the hazardous smog, including limiting the use of conventional petrol-powered and hybrid cars to alternate days.

But all-electric vehicles are free to drive in the capital at any time. And that has prompted a rush of inquiries from would-be buyers, dealers and automakers say.

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“I'm considering [an electric car] as the new policy means electric cars aren't limited from driving on heavy pollution days while other types are,” said Wang Chao, 26, sizing up electric vehicles at a BYD Co dealership on Wednesday.

Wang, who runs a Beijing food wholesale business, said the driving restrictions were yet another reason to think electric, noting the attraction also of government subsidies that would save him about 100,000 yuan (HK$120,000) on a new electric model.

Those subsidies and other government measures have helped pure-electric car sales soar nearly five-fold to 113,810 nationwide in the first 10 months of the year, putting China on track to overtake the United States as the largest market for electric cars this year.

Automakers including Tesla Motors and Beijing Automotive Group's electric car subsidiary say they have seen an uptick in potential buyers asking about pure electric cars in Beijing because of the pollution, although many don't dare leave home to do so.