GUANGZHOU, China -- Hoping to encourage the spread of eco-friendly electric vehicles in China, automakers are actively installing charging stations for the vehicles.

The Chinese government expects EVs to become the primary next-generation eco-friendly car, and has set a goal of having 500,000 EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles on Chinese roads by 2015.

But EVs' higher price tags and lack of chargers are preventing the cars from spreading in China. Annual EV sales in China remained at 14,604 units in 2013 and only 11,777 units were sold in the January-June period of 2014.

That prompted the central and local governments to prop up the EV market. They are separately offering subsidies to help people buy EVs.

Chinese cities are also setting numerical targets for chargers. According to Chinese automaker BYD, 88 major Chinese cities aim to install a total of more than 210,000 chargers by 2015.

BYD has decided to team up with major Chinese real estate firm China Overseas Property. BYD will set up chargers for its Denza EV sedan, which it jointly developed with Germany's Daimler, at the real estate firm's commercial facilities in Chinese major cities.

The charging stations will be set up in Beijing initially, and other Chinese cities will be added later. BYD hopes that the tie-up will help ease consumers' concerns about running out of battery charge on the road.

China Overseas Property will also be able to attract EV drivers to its facilities and show its support for popularizing green vehicles.

Tesla Motors of the U.S. has also entered China, joining hands with major real estate company Soho China, and has begun supplying electricity at an office and shopping complex in Beijing.

Tesla also went into partnership with major department store operator Intime Retail (Group) and started installing chargers in Beijing and Chengdu, in Sichuan Province.

In August, Tesla decided to set up charging stations with major telecom operator China United Network Communications Group, or China Unicom, at 400 locations, including China Unicom's offices, across China.

The commercial vehicle division of major automaker Dongfeng Motor and large telecommunications equipment maker ZTE are jointly developing a wireless charging technology. ZTE decided to enter the EV charging equipment market, which it sees as promising.