China’s Plans with Electric Cars Delayed, but Not Dead

September 6th, 2012 by Cynthia Shahan

China has had many plans to integrate electric cars into US and other foreign car markets. But its plans have hit yellow light after yellow light.

BYD e6 electric taxi in service in Shenzhen, China

From the Green Car Report: “The challenges to China’s ambitious goals for electric cars are the same ones facing every other automaker: lithium-ion cells are expensive, meaning electric cars cost far more to build and sell than gasoline cars–and Chinese consumers are nothing if not price-sensitive.”

So, as it is now, it has to step back its dreams. “China has dialed back on its plans for pure plug-in cars, and is focusing more on raising fuel efficiency and encouraging known technologies like hybrids,” the Green Car Report adds.

Plans for China’s “domination” of our market, or the world market, may be just that, only plans in the works. However, it is good to plan for something that would [optimistically] do away with gas-guzzling vehicles.

Resistance to the change is everywhere, especially in large manufacturing industries. This is not simply the case with the Chinese, but a global situation.

Apparently, China’s plans are delayed, but the plans are still important, even if the details have yet to materialize. We’ll see how things change in the coming years. A closing quote from the Green Car Report:

Five to eight years ago, Chinese carmakers were going to blast into the U.S. car market and sell huge volumes of inexpensive small cars–just like the Germans, Japanese, and Koreans before them.

Then, two or three years ago, Chinese auto companies were going to leapfrog directly into electric cars, dominating that market globally.

Neither of those things has happened.

At least not yet.

China’s national government, working closely in partnership with large industrial companies, still has as its official policy that “new energy vehicles” will become a major part of the country’s output–and domestic sales.

Keep up to date with all the hottest cleantech news by subscribing to our (free) cleantech newsletter, or keep an eye on sector-specific news by getting our (also free) solar energy newsletter, electric vehicle newsletter, or wind energy newsletter.

Tags: China, china electric cars, China electric vehicles

About the Author

Cynthia Shahan is an Organic Farmer, Licensed Acupuncturist, Anthropologist, and mother of four unconditionally loving spirits, teachers, and environmentally conscious beings who have lit the way for me for decades.

Will Poundstone

chinese electric cars are probably going to go the way of chinese solar panels, they will be heavily tariffed and will be uncompetitive
- Bob_Wallace
  
  Excuse me? Chinese solar panels are uncompetitive? Which universe do you hang out in?
  
  Chinese electric cars, China is going to be a major market. The Chinese people will probably buy Chinese-built cars if the quality and price are about equal. That will create a major market which will drive down manufacturing price.
  
  China may be slower to get to market with a great EV but I wouldn’t bet against them to be a dominate force once they do.
  
  BTW, they won’t have to invent the best batteries. They can buy the license to manufacture most likely. The most promising EV battery, Envia, isn’t going to be manufactured by the developing company. They are going to license to others for manufacturing. (GM has already signed up.)