China is taking significant steps to electrify its vehicle fleet through the 'Green Car, Green Electricity' initiative, which will see the issuance of 1.37 billion green certificates by 2025. This program aims to promote sustainability and encourage the use of renewable energy sources to power new energy vehicles (NEVs).

As part of this initiative, NEV owners who charge their vehicles at designated green electricity charging stations can earn exclusive green certificates from the National Energy Administration (NEA) for every 1,000 kWh of cumulative charging. This incentivization is part of a broader commitment to enhance the electrification of the transportation sector.

Recently, at a promotional event held at the Lianhuashan supercharging station in Shenzhen, NEV owners were awarded 'Green Car, Green Electricity' badges along with a charging card valued at 50 yuan (around 7 U.S. dollars) as recognition for their commitment to environmentally friendly driving.

Green electricity is defined as power derived from renewable sources like wind, solar, and biomass. The NEA issues trading certificates that facilitate the exchange of this green electricity, promoting sustainable energy practices.

Since the launch of the green certificate system as a pilot program in 2017, the NEA has progressively rolled out this scheme. By December 2023, the administration had issued the first batch of certificates. As of June 2025, over 1.37 billion green certificates had been issued, with 348 million certificates successfully transacted nationwide.

Currently, 11 charging stations in Shenzhen deliver 100 percent green electricity through various trading mechanisms, ensuring that NEV owners can contribute to a greener environment. Cheng Kun from the Shenzhen power supply bureau emphasized that this initiative serves as concrete evidence of an owner's commitment to low-carbon development.

In March of this year, several governmental bodies including the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) introduced guidelines to further develop the green electricity certificate market. These guidelines underline the importance of enhancing green charging stations and promoting the adoption of renewable energy in NEVs.

Shenzhen is leading the charge among cities promoting green electricity usage for its NEV fleet. In neighboring Jiangsu Province, similar efforts are evident, such as the display at new energy vehicle charging stations that proudly announces the use of entirely green electricity.

Owners like Wang Xiaodong are beginning to realize the benefits of merging vehicle charging with environmental impact. He remarked on the newfound awareness of how the electricity for his car is generated from an offshore wind farm, enabled by traceability certificates accessible on his mobile device.

The push for green electricity in highway service areas has also fueled consumer interest in new energy vehicles, with over 200 charging stations in Jiangsu now utilizing 100 percent green electricity, as reported by government sources.

Beijing has also committed to advancing the practice of charging NEVs using renewable energy, exploring innovative transaction mechanisms to boost green electricity consumption.

China is ramping up efforts to meet its ambitious environmental targets, aiming for peak carbon emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. According to recent reports, the country's installed renewable energy capacity has surged to 2.09 billion kilowatts following a sustained period of investment and development.

The NEV market is similarly poised for expansion, with numbers expected to soar to 31.4 million by 2024, a significant increase from the 4.92 million recorded at the end of the last five-year plan.