China is stepping up efforts to promote the use of new energy vehicles in the transport industry to address increasing car pollution problems, a spokesman from the Ministry of Transport said in Beijing on Thursday.

Charging posts at Beijing Capital Airport. The city is in need of sufficient charing facilities. [Photo/China Daily]

A total of 300,000 environmentally-friendly vehicles will be put into operation in the public transport and logistics sectors by 2020, according to Xu Chengguang, the ministry's spokesperson. The use of new energy vehicles will also be expanded into auto leasing and EMS fields, he said.

As an emerging strategic industry, new energy vehicles represent future trends in the auto industry, Xu said.

During the 12th Five-Year Plan, China piloted a program to replace many conventional fuel-powered buses and taxis with new energy vehicles, according to Xu. At the end of 2014, there were about 40,000 new energy buses and more than 6,000 new energy taxis across the nation, he said.

Following a guideline on promoting the application of new energy vehicles by the State Council, the Ministry of Transport issued an implementation proposal last month, saying that buses and taxis in the urban transport system, as well as urban logistics vehicles, will be the three key areas for promoting new energy vehicles.

Xu said the ministry will enhance communication and coordination with relevant ministries and commissions to determine preferential tax and fee policies, and take measures to improve charging infrastructure as well as the technological performance of new energy vehicles.

The ministry also will encourage private capital to invest the transport industry, participate in construction and operation of charging infrastructure, and offer vehicle and battery leasing as well as recycling services.