The nation's heavy reliance on imported oil and alarming air quality have led the Chinese government to encourage more efficient conventional engines powering automobiles, ships and machinery.

The State Council recently issued a notice on its official website that calls for a 6 to 10 percent decrease in fuel consumption in combustion engines by 2015 compared with 2010.

The notice also said that 60 percent of all combustion engines in the country should be energy-saving designs by 2015.