Chinese Governement Focuses on Electric Cars

Written by Bryan Johannsen

Not known for a focus on saving the environment, China is looking to be a leading producer of electric cars. While they are far behind the US, Europe and Japan when it comes to making gas and diesel they plan to just skip perfecting that technology and move straight into hybrid electric and purely electric vehicles.

BYD Auto, a division of rechargeable battery manufacturer BYD Inc. already has a hybrid on the road in China and plans to bring them to the US and Europe in the near future. In April of this year the Chinese government adopted a plan to turn the country into one of the, if not the, leading manfacturer of electric vehicles.

On the home front the Chinese governement is providing cash incentives to taxi fleets in 13 cities for each hybrid or electric vehicle thay purchase. In the inner city driving is rare in China and a small EV is a more practical alternative to a larger gas powered auto. There also aren't the strict auto safety controls that manufacturers of small electric vehicles have to deal with here in the United States.

China's massive population and fast growing economy means many, many more cars on the road in near future so going electric now would keep the future requirements of gasoline and diesel fuel down when the economy allows for more Chinese to own a car.

BYD claims to have sold 28,000 of their plug in hybrid F6DM in country and will soon launch their e6, a pure electric 5 seat crossover but they are not doing this for environmental reasons. "We are not trying to save the world, we are making money." says Henry Li, the head of BYD export division.

Whatever the reason, strong governmental support and a goal to be the world's dominant electric vehicle maker is nothing to be ignored. Keep an eye out for hybrids and electric cars from BYD on US streets in the near future.

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