Drivers charge their cars at a charging station set up in the Arden Botanical Garden in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. [Photo/Baotou Daily]

New energy vehicles (NEVs) and buses are leading the new way when it comes to a green and low-carbon lifestyle in Baotou, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, after China put forward goals for achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality, reports Baotou Daily.

Since 2015, Baotou Public Transport Group Co has introduced pure electric and hybrid buses which are low in energy consumption and high in comfort.

In 2016, Baotou was listed as a national pilot city for the demonstration and promotion of energy-saving and new energy vehicles, as well as a national new energy vehicle promotion and application city.

From 2021 to 2023, the city plans to gradually increase the proportion of clean energy and new energy buses to 100 percent, and increase the bus utilization rate to 15 percent.

According to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, from January to August this year, 1.81 million NEVs were produced in China, while 1.80 million were sold. That means that for every 10 cars sold in China, one is a NEV.

At present, China's NEV patent applications account for 66.79 percent of all NEV patent applications in the world. China has become a global leader in the development of NEVs.

Baotou plans to promote the sale of about 40,000 NEVs in the city within three years, build a NEV energy supply network, and develop itself into a NEV model city.

Baotou has built 12 new energy charging stations and a total of 101 charging piles this year, which are distributed throughout the districts of Hondlon, Qingshan, Jiuyuan and Donghe, as well as Tumd Right Banner.