Electric ships, boats and barges could be navigating much of China's vast network of inland waterways in the near future. With over 100,000 passenger and freight vessels operating within the country, some regions that straddle the country's major rivers and others along the coast are ramping up support for electric vessels in an effort to reduce emissions from inland water transport.
Provinces including Fujian and Hubei have announced cash incentives and subsidies to spur the development, manufacturing and use of electric vessels. Shanghai, meanwhile, has offered to subsidize the cost of battery and propulsion systems for electric vessels to lower the cost barrier for potential buyers.
