THE number of outlets offering electric cars to rent across Shanghai will rise to more than 1,000 by the end of the year, according to government proposals released yesterday.

As well as the increase in the number of service centers, the fleet of cars available to rent will grow to 3,000, and there will be more than 5,000 charging posts, according to a document outlining the future for the new-energy car rental scheme released by the commissions for transport, and energy information and technology.

The document did not say how many service centers are currently in operation, but according to Shanghai Daily's calculations, EVCard — by far the dominant player in the sector — currently has about 540.