IN an effort to encourage the use of green transport, the city is increasing the number of electric cars available for rent to 5,000 by the end of year, when the number of service centers in operation will reach 2,000, local officials said yesterday.

By 2018, the city will have a fleet of 30,000 electric cars for rent, and 50,000 to 80,000 will be made available to drivers in the Yangtze Delta region under the government’s E-car promotion scheme.

There are currently about 1,400 electric cars available and the average rental time is 3.2 hours.