China’s Hainan province has confirmed that it plans to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2030, in support of the central government’s stepped-up efforts to accelerate the country’s transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles. Hainan is the first province in the country to implement this policy.

The Hainan government said it is aiming for new energy vehicles (NEVs) to account for 45% of total vehicles in use by the end of the decade, compared with 24% in 2025. After 2030, ICE vehicles already in use in the province will still be legal to drive and trade, as long as they pass regular government-mandated emissions tests. ICE vehicles from outside the province will be allowed to enter temporarily, for tourism purposes.

Government data show that sales of NEVs, comprising mainly battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), amounted to 117,000 units in Hainan last year, accounting for 63% of total new vehicle sales – higher than the 51% national average.

Local analysts believe that the move by the Hainan government may prompt other provinces in China to bring forward plans to ban the sale of new ICE vehicles, particularly in major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, which have extensive recharging networks and where NEV penetration is highest.