Recently, Chinese National Railway Administration, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and China Railway Group co-publish the document of Suggestions About Supporting New Energy Commodity Vehicles Railway Transport to Serve for New Energy Vehicle Industry Development. The document focuses on the demand of new energy vehicles railway transport, and clarifies the policy will support and standardize this service. The railway transport will optimize its management and supervision. PHEV and EV that uses lithium-ion batteries for propulsion, and are listed in the scope of Notice for Road Vehicles Manufacturers and Products, will not be seen as dangerous commodity according to Railway Safety Management Rule, Railway Dangerous Goods Transportation Safety Supervision Rule and Dangerous Goods List (GB 12268). The consigner and consignee can transport vehicles under only the requirement of this new Suggestion document. If there’s requirement on domestic and international railway transport, the products should comply with International Railway Transporting Goods Agreement (CMГC) attachment 2 Dangerous Goods Transporting Rule. The following rules should also be complied with:

• When consigning shipment of new energy vehicle, a consigner should provide qualified certification for products, and the document should align with the actual goods. Exported vehicles are not required.
• The SOC of vehicles should not be over 65%. The oil tank of PHEV should be well closed and no leakage. Vehicles should not add or extract oil during transporting.
• When consigning shipment of new energy vehicles, there should not be any backup batteries or other batteries except the original assembled batteries. Vehicles should not carry other items except for the equipped items that are necessary when leave factory.

This Suggestion will effectively serve for qualified new energy vehicle development, and fully take advantage of low-carbon of comprehensive transporting system and railway transport.