atlaw4u
05-09-2011, 10:53 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg According to China's New Energy Vehicle Development Plan, the government wants 1 million hybrid vehicles and 500,000 plug-in and all-electric vehicles on China's roads by 2015. (http://detnews.com/article/20110509/AUTO01/105090354/1148/rss25)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Mitsubishi_iMiEV.jpgChristine Tierney - DETNEWS (http://detnews.com) - May 9, 2011
During the first 80 years of the auto industry, American and European automakers didn't have to worry about pollution or oil supplies. Oil was plentiful and gas was cheap. But by the time China got into the car business, those concerns loomed large.
China's huge cities already were choking in smog, and the world's oil reserves were expected to dwindle. Even while Chinese automakers were learning the basics of carmaking a few years ago, planners in Beijing set out to develop an electric car industry that wouldn't rely on oil.
China's automakers don't seem any closer now than others to solving the technological challenges that have stumped the industry: how to pack more energy in batteries while reducing their size and cost. Chinese auto executives admit they have a long way to go to master the technology.
But American, European and Japanese auto executives and officials are taking China's efforts very seriously. The Chinese government has set ambitious production targets and will provide close to $15 billion between now and 2020.
Half the money will go toward research and development of "new energy vehicles," a term that covers plug-in and electric cars. But money also will be spent on infrastructure, such as the installation of 36,000 charging outlets in Beijing within three years, and pilot projects in 25 cities.
"Where they're ahead is at the political commitment level," said Oliver Hazimeh, a partner at PRTM, a Waltham, Mass.-based consulting firm, which conducted a study with the World Bank on China's electric car plans... http://detnews.com/article/20110509/AUTO01/105090354/1148/rss25
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Mitsubishi_iMiEV.jpgChristine Tierney - DETNEWS (http://detnews.com) - May 9, 2011
During the first 80 years of the auto industry, American and European automakers didn't have to worry about pollution or oil supplies. Oil was plentiful and gas was cheap. But by the time China got into the car business, those concerns loomed large.
China's huge cities already were choking in smog, and the world's oil reserves were expected to dwindle. Even while Chinese automakers were learning the basics of carmaking a few years ago, planners in Beijing set out to develop an electric car industry that wouldn't rely on oil.
China's automakers don't seem any closer now than others to solving the technological challenges that have stumped the industry: how to pack more energy in batteries while reducing their size and cost. Chinese auto executives admit they have a long way to go to master the technology.
But American, European and Japanese auto executives and officials are taking China's efforts very seriously. The Chinese government has set ambitious production targets and will provide close to $15 billion between now and 2020.
Half the money will go toward research and development of "new energy vehicles," a term that covers plug-in and electric cars. But money also will be spent on infrastructure, such as the installation of 36,000 charging outlets in Beijing within three years, and pilot projects in 25 cities.
"Where they're ahead is at the political commitment level," said Oliver Hazimeh, a partner at PRTM, a Waltham, Mass.-based consulting firm, which conducted a study with the World Bank on China's electric car plans... http://detnews.com/article/20110509/AUTO01/105090354/1148/rss25