NEV surge contributes to record air quality improvement in Beijing

BEIJING -- Beijing has achieved its best air quality on record, driven significantly by the rapid adoption of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and a sustained push to promote clean energy, according to the city's annual government work report released on Sunday.

Beijing has scored remarkable achievements in building a beautiful and eco-friendly city in 2025, as the number of NEVs on the road exceeded 1.3 million, green power accounted for 36 percent of the city's electricity mix, and days with good air quality surpassed 80 percent for the first time, said mayor Yin Yong when delivering the report at the annual session of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress.

The average annual concentration of PM2.5 -- hazardous fine particulate pollution -- fell to 27 micrograms per cubic meter in 2025. This figure is not only 11.5 percent lower than that of the previous year but also represents the lowest level since monitoring began, the report noted.

The city boasts an annual production capacity of 700,000 NEVs. Yin said that the city plans to build 30,000 new public electric chargers in 2026, significantly expanding the supporting infrastructure.