Visitors check out the front trunk of a new energy vehicle at the 2026 Hainan International Auto Expo and the 8th Hainan International New Energy Vehicle Exhibition in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province, on July 9, 2026. Photo: VCG

South China's Hainan Province will become the first province in China to stop sales of new fuel-powered vehicles by 2030, according to a newly released plan, as the island province accelerates the construction of its National Ecological Civilization Pilot Zone.

Hainan will steadily advance the phase-out of fuel-powered vehicle sales by 2030, media outlets reported on Monday, citing the 15th Five-Year Plan for the construction of Beautiful Hainan released by the Hainan provincial government on July 3. 

The share of new-energy vehicles (NEVs) in the province's vehicle fleet is expected to rise to 45 percent by 2030 from 23.75 percent in 2025, multiple media outlets reported. 

The plan requires that all newly added and replacement vehicles in the public services and social operation sectors, except for special-purpose vehicles, use clean energy, while all newly added and replacement vehicles in the private vehicle sector be NEVs by the end of the plan period.

The policy targets new vehicle sales rather than existing vehicles on the road. After 2030, new fuel-powered vehicles will no longer be available for sale in Hainan, while registered fuel-powered vehicles will remain eligible for inspections and legal road use, according to media reports.

Liang Haiming, dean of the Hainan University Belt and Road Research Institute, told the Global Times on Monday that the wider adoption of NEVs will spur the growth of related sectors, including clean energy, energy storage, charging and battery-swapping infrastructure, and smart transportation, helping Hainan translate its ecological advantages into industrial strengths and growth momentum.

"Hainan is well-positioned to pilot the transition toward cleaner vehicles across the entire region. This can provide a measurable model for green transformation and show that the Hainan Free Trade Port is not only a hub for opening-up, but also a platform for low-carbon development," he said.

To support the transition, Hainan will improve its charging infrastructure layout, and it aims to keep the province-wide vehicle-to-charging-pile ratio within 2.5:1 by 2030, helping ease concerns over charging availability.

Among the measures outlined in the plan, Hainan will advance demonstration applications of fuel cell vehicles in areas such as heavy-duty trucks, cold-chain logistics and public transportation, and explore the development of zero-carbon freight corridors for outbound shipments.

Hainan has strong foundations for promoting NEVs, according to Liang. "As an island economy with relatively clear mobility patterns, Hainan has a unique advantage in planning and advancing the transition to NEVs across the entire region. Its abundant wind and solar resources, combined with the clean energy island initiative, can provide stronger support for green transportation." 

With the added advantages of the free trade port and rich tourism scenarios, Hainan is well-positioned to become a testing ground for new vehicle technologies, business models and low-carbon mobility solutions, Liang added.

The vehicle transition is part of Hainan's broader plan to accelerate green transformation during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, The plan aims for Hainan to achieve its carbon emissions peak before 2030, raise the share of non-fossil energy in total energy consumption to 35 percent by 2030 from 20.9 percent in 2024, complete its carbon intensity reduction target, and further improve resource-use efficiency toward the country's advanced level, according to the Hainan provincial government.

To achieve these goals, Hainan will accelerate green and low-carbon transformation in key sectors, including energy, industry, transportation, urban and rural construction, and agriculture, according to the five-year plan.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, Hainan deepened and upgraded the construction of its clean energy island. New energy became the province's largest power source, while Hainan ranked first among China's provincial-level regions in terms of the NEV market penetration rate and second in terms of NEV ownership share.

Hainan's exploration could also provide valuable lessons for other regions in China by showing that green transformation requires a systematic approach, Liang said. "This includes setting a clear timeline for phasing out fuel vehicles, preparing supporting infrastructure in advance, and gradually expanding the transition from public-sector fleets to commercial and private vehicles to reduce costs and social pressure.

"More importantly, Hainan's experience highlights the need for coordinated transformation across the transportation, energy and industries. By combining technological innovation, green finance and market-based mechanisms, it could help explore a pathway toward the dual-carbon goals that is both economically viable and socially sustainable," the expert added.