China’s capital to increase smog monitoring after ‘red alert’

But the trend comes at a cost: a worsening of China’s notorious air pollution.

On Tuesday, the city issued its first-ever “red alert” for pollution. “But there were no restrictions on electric cars”.

Wang, who runs a Beijing food wholesale company, said the driving limitations were yet another reason to believe electrical, noting the draw additionally of government subsidies that will save him around 100,000 yuan ($15,560) on a new electrical version.

Rising wealth means more cars, nudging consumption upward as a new economic pillar embraced by the Communist leadership. Starting January 1, it will enact strict emission guidelines and only allow cars to drive on alternate days according to license plate numbers.

Regardless of the electric auto market’s potential, Peter Ford, The Christian Science Monitor’s Beijing correspondent, describes the blinding pollution as an immediate threat.

Smog has been a public health concern in Beijing for years but the government’s response has drawn scrutiny in the past week, following criticism that it did not issue a red alert during an earlier episode of hazardous smog. Last week, when the PM2.5 readings were three times higher, the authorities did not declare a red alert. In addition, the Chinese meteorological bureau also announced that it will have at least one or another two incidents of this type of heavy pollution in December, where the first one is expected to hit on Saturday.

But even if all Chinese drivers switched to battery electric vehicles (BEV), the air pollution threat may not be alleviated. Communist Party leaders have promised to change the scenario, but people think it would many years to see that change. Electricity generation, though still powered largely by coal in China, does offer a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as recent studies about EV use in America’s dirtiest grids confirm.

But this week, for many in the city, vehicle shopping is not on the agenda. They are bringing winds to ease the smog.