A total of 6,106 methanol-fueled taxis have been put on the road in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, in an effort to curb air pollution, local authorities said.

Methanol-fueled taxis in Xi'an [File photo: IC]

The city, plagued by smog for years, aims to have 10,000 methanol-fueled taxis by the end of June this year, accounting for over 80 percent of its total number of taxis, according to the Xi'an municipal taxi management office.

Methanol is widely considered a clean fuel for engines.

Xi'an has unveiled a series of policies and measures, such as subsidies for methanol cars, allowing methanol-fueled vehicles to use bus lanes and freeing methanol-fueled cars from traffic restrictions.

Related industries and services for methanol-fueled vehicles, such as financing, insurance, lease, logistics, after-sales services and second-hand trading, are being created.