BEIJING: Petrol pumps are a rare sight in any city in China. If we see five pumps within a hundred meters in our cities, here we can see one pump if travel fifty kilometers! It has been a long time since China switched to the electric era, leaving behind petrol and diesel. Battery-powered cars and buses rule the roads. There are no non-electric two-wheelers, and occasionally blue number plate vehicles. Taxis are 90 percent electric. If you don't need to fill petrol and diesel, then why pumps?

Auto giants including Tesla are launching their latest electric vehicles in China.

One need not have to go to showrooms to buy cars. There are showrooms for cars in big malls in cities. One can go there and see the vehicle closely and identify the features. There is a tax exemption for buyers of electric vehicles. It can be charged at home, flats or apartments. Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen which we have in our county, are here, but most of them are electric versions. Many Chinese car companies, including the familiar MG, launch new models every day.

The motorcycles here are small. While we go for luxurious big bikes, the Chinese travel on small bicycle-sized battery powered motorcycles. In our country, there are service roads everywhere for small mopeds. Smaller models cost around 15,000 in Indian Rupees. The same model as the electric scooter in our country costs only Rs 40,000. However, if you think of bringing it to India, you have to pay more tax than the price. If the nut and bolt get faulty, then will have to buy it from China.