In April 1998, an initiative titled “Air Purification Project—Clean Vehicles” was jointly launched by 13 government organs, including MOST, State Environmental Protection Administration, State Planning Commission (now the “National Development and Reform Commission”) and National Economy and Trade Commission (later became part of the Ministry of Commerce). From then on, with the support from national programs, a sound foundation has been laid for the development of alternative vehicle fuels and alternative fuels vehicles.

Vigorous efforts are to be made to develop alternative energy technologies in the 11^th Five-Year Plan. Under the framework of the 863 Program and the National Enabling Program, central and local authorities are to accelerate the progress of oil-alternative energies and technologies in a well planned manner and through different phases. Leapfrogging developments are to be achieved in wind power, solar energy, biomass energy and other renewable energies to gradually replace fossil fuels.