China proposes draft regulation on alternative fuel vehicles

Chinas National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) recently published on its website a draft regulation on managing the production of alternative fuel vehicles and called for suggestions and comments. Prototypes will only be allowed to operate in approved areas, and more sophisticated products will be allowed to be produced in batches for sale in approved areas. Conventional auto fuels commonly used in China are gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethanol gas, and dimethyl ether (DME). (March 8, 2007)