Study: China to gain top spot in electric vehicle sales by 2015; U.S. will remain hybrid haven

BYD E6 – Click above for high-res image gallery

With the Chinese government recently announcing plans to invest a whopping 100 billion yuan ($14.7 billion U.S. at the current exchange rate) into the development and production of alternative energy vehicles, and with the bulk majority of the funds reportedly earmaked for electric vehicles (EVs), it now appears China will soon lead the world in EV sales. A recent study, conducted by Pike Research, predicts that China will have at least one million EVs on their roads by 2015. The same study suggests that the U.S. will lag behind slightly, with only 840,000 plug-ins scattered across our nation’s highways and byways by then. We may be in second place, but an average of 168,000 plug-in vehicles sold a year for the next five years is pretty remarkable.

China may be projected to reign EV supreme, but Pike says the U.S. will become the world’s hottest hybrid market. The study predicts that hybrid sales in China will only reach 850,000 units from now until 2015. Meanwhile, the U.S. is expected to tally an astounding 2.3 million hybrid sales within that time.

China’s $14.7 billion investment makes our government’s commitment of $2.5 billion look comparatively small. The study suggests that China’s substantial EV incentives, coupled with the fact that many first-time car buyers are entering its automotive market, will help to quickly push the nation’s EV sales right on past the U.S.

AutoblogGreen

=> Study: China to gain top spot in electric vehicle sales by 2015; U.S. will remain hybrid haven.

FAW to launch electric B50 and other models this year

First Automobile Works are planning to launch their first pure electric vehicle this year, the Besturn B50, and will be FAW’s first mass produced electric vehicle. At the same time, FAW’s Tianjin subsidery, XiaLi, are also planning to launch a pure electric vehicle. An initial production run is set to happen soon in small numbers and an end of year launch is expected.

By the end of the year China will have five pure electric vehicles in production, including the BYD E6, Chang’an Ben Ben Mini and the new FAW vehicles, which will give consumers and governmental departments a wider choice in green vehicles.

China Car Times

=> FAW to launch electric B50 and other models this year.

Report: China considering $14.7B investment to spark production of hybrids and EVs

As we’ve reported before, China is boldly aiming to be the worldwide leader in alternative technology vehicles. Though we don’t doubt the country’s ability to achieve this goal, several conflicting reports have shown that the nation has struggled to gain ground in the electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid markets. All that might change now that China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is preparing to roll out a massive investment plan that should help boost development of alternative technology vehicles, the Shanghai Securities News is reporting.

China’s new ten-year investment plan (2011-2020) sets aside over 100 billion yuan ($14.7 billion U.S. at the current exchange rate) for the development and production of alternative technology vehicles. The plan is expected to be approved later this month and should go a long way towards helping China reach its annual production goal of 500,000 hybrids and EVs starting in 2011.

AutoblogGreen

=> Report: China considering $14.7B investment to spark production of hybrids and EVs.

BYD and Daimler sign joint-venture agreement

The new company, called Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd will owned 50:50 by BYD and Daimler. The two companies will invest RMB 600 million (about 88 million USD) to form the new joint-venture, headquartered in Shenzhen, the same city as BYD.

Regardless of the success of this new JV, one can see how associating themselves with Mercedes-Benz’s parent company will certainly give BYD more credibility, or as the Chinese call it, “face.” BYD will not be producing cars for Daimler, but developing cars with them.

Hopefully this does not go down as the Daimler-Chrysler partnership. Excerpts from the press release below:

Mr. Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD Company Limited:

“Together with Daimler we are making excellent progress identifying opportunities to utilize the strengths of both companies to create a new brand of electric cars for China. This is a unique and exciting initiative and together we are pushing hard to bring this new electric vehicle to market as soon as possible.”

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG:

“Our new joint venture is well positioned to make the most of the vast potential of electric mobility in China. We are fortunate to have excellent joint venture partners in China and the establishment of this research and technology center with BYD adds another dimension to our growing presence in this important market.”

China Car Times

=> BYD and Daimler sign joint-venture agreement.

Ernst Young Survey Finds Roughly 60% of Chinese Consumers Would Consider Purchasing a Plug-in Vehicle

According to a new survey by Ernst & Young’s Global Automotive Center, roughly 60% of respondents in China said they would consider purchasing a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle. This percentage is nearly five times that of US, Germany, UK and Japan survey respondents.

The global survey included China, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Japan. In China, Ernst & Young canvassed the views of 1,000 vehicle owners and those that plan to purchase within three years from across China.

These global surveys comprise part of Ernst & Young’s advanced vehicle powertrain initiative, which focuses on the business opportunities and issues companies face in the development of alternative transportation solutions, and is designed to gauge consumer interest and purchase decision factors regarding plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.

Other key survey findings include:

• Saving money on fuel was the lead influencer in China at 86%. Environmental impact followed with 82%; safety at 69%; and government incentives at 60%. Among all seven countries surveyed, fuel savings is the leading factor to favorably influence the purchase decision. However, environmental impacts and safety were cited by more China respondents as influencing the decision process than any other country.
• Battery driving range was the top concern about plug-ins (73%), followed by charging stations (69%); reliability and serviceability (64%); and safety (64%).
• 82% of respondents consider a range per charge of less than 200 miles to be acceptable.
• 65% of survey participants said they would subsidize local charging stations—nearly twice the portion of other countries surveyed. When asked which specific locations would offer convenient re-charging access, 76% indicated conventional roadside recharging locations, 46% indicated residential and apartment communities and 34% indicated large public parking places near places of business.
• 79% of China respondents believe that electric-powered vehicles will outnumber gasoline powered vehicles in 20 years or less.

Commenting on the findings, Mike Hanley, Ernst & Young Global Automotive Leader, said that the large portion of consumers in China indicating a strong interest in purchasing a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle—especially for a powertrain technology which is not yet widely available—should be affirming news for automotive manufacturers in China and internationally that are planning to release electric vehicles into the market late in 2010 and early 2011.

As the survey suggests, electric vehicles have an opportunity to make a significant entrance into the China public’s consciousness over the next few years. Even if only a small portion of the 65% of survey respondents who said they would consider a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle when introduced are serious, there would still be more than enough demand to sell out the 2010 and 2011 production runs of the major and new manufacturers, while buying crucial time to build out infrastructure and increase public awareness.

Green Car Congress

=> Ernst Young Survey Finds Roughly 60% of Chinese Consumers Would Consider Purchasing a Plug-in Vehicle.

Chinese electric car charging station standards to be announced in June

China is expected to release its standard for nation wide electric power stations in June this year. Shenzhen city, the home of electric pioneer BYD, is reportedly planning 20,000 electric charging stations which will make it the worlds pioneer in vehicle charging.

In 2010, the Chinese State Grid has set its eyes on the next big area for profits, they are working with Tianjin Qing Yuan, BYD, and Chery on setting a standard for charging that will be utilized in China, and more than likely across the rest of the world.

CCT will keep you updated on the progress of the talks.

China Car Times

=> Chinese electric car charging station standards to be announced in June.

E-Yikes! Electric Bikes Terrorize the Streets of China

Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, have taken off in China. But some people say they are dangerous, and may not be so green after all. WSJ’s Shai Oster takes one out for a spin.

BYD tarnib akusid ka teistele tootjatele

Hiina e-autode tootja BYD andis teada, et on alustanud kõnelusi oma akutehnoloogiate tarnimiseks kahele Euroopa autotootjale ja ühele Põhja-Ameerika tootjale.

Teade oli kaua oodatud, sest paljud kommentaatorid pakkusid välja, et varem või hiljem leiab BYDi edukas akutehnoloogia tee mõne senise autotootjani, sest oma brändiga on hiinlastel väga keeruline Lääne-Euroopa ja USA autoturule siseneda.

Kahjuks ei täpsusta uudis, milliste firmadega on tegu, kuid arvestades, et Peugeot/Citroen on seotud Mitsubishiga, Renault läbi Nissani samuti Jaapani tehnoloogiatega, VW-grupp on koostöös Hitachiga, siis jääb spekulatsioon õhku, et kas tegemist on mõne Saksa või Rootsi preemium brändiga või siis hetkel veel tundmatu ja väiksema kategooria tootjaga. Esialgu kalduks pigem toetama viimast stsenaariumit. 

Uudise allikas: Autobloggreen

Summary: Chinese battery giant and (PH)EV-maker BYD in talks to provide battery technology for two European and one North-American car company.

A New Space Race? Hiina vs USA

Alles sai president Obama teatada oma $2,4 mlrd e-autode stiimulite paketist, kui peaminister Wen Jiabao ja president Hu Jintao lõid lauale $2,2 mlrd Hiina e-autode arenduseks järgmise 3 aasta jooksul. Kas tegemist on uue “kosmose võidujooksu” algusega?

Osade vaatlejate arvates on üks suuremaid Hiina e-autode arendajaid BYD pea 2 aastat tehnoloogia arenduses Toyota’st ees. Lähiaastad näitavad, kas hiinlaste tehnoloogiline edumaa ja kahtlemata hea finantspositsioon suudavad tagada läbimurde tarbijaturgudel läänes.

Allikas: Telegraph.co.uk ja Gas 2.0

Summary: Chinese government responds to Obama’s EV and battery technology stimulus package with almost the same same amount of investment to EV-tech. A beginning of a new space race?

Trammid, trollid ja siis ka elektribussid

Õnneks on meil Tallinnas tugev elektriühistranspordi traditsioon, kuid siiski tossutab veel märkimisväärne osa kambas sõitmise vahenditest linnas ringi diislit põletades. Nüüd annab Hiina firma FAW teada, et juunist alates on neil käigus 300km läbisõiduga liitium raudfosfaat akudega elektribussid, mille hind on ca 900 000 krooni. Uudise korjas üles Autobloggreen.

NAIAS 2009: BYD E6 – midagi peredele

Analüütikud on pakkunud diametraalselt erinevaid arvamusi selle kohta, kes võiks olla varajased elektriautode kasutajad. Mõned arvavad, et elektriautondus on rikaste pärusmaa ja seetõttu domineerivad turul alguses superkallid elektriautod nagu Tesla Roadster või Fisker Karma. Teised jälle väidavad, et ilmsesti algab elektriautode massikasutus hoopis miniautodest nagu Reva  ja Th!nk.

Mina ja ilmsesti paljud minusugused pereinimesed, kel on kodus lapsed ja kes tihti vajab pagasiruumi ka muuks kui vihmavarjude vedamiseks, hoiame põialt, et turule jõuaksid esimeses laines ka mõistliku hinnaga pereautod (laenates termini TopGeari lobasuudelt).  

Seetõttu on hea meel alustada hoopis ühe Hiina autotootja esitlusega Detroidi autoshow’lt. BYD E6 peaks jõudma Hiinas müüki 2009.a. ja Euroopas 2011.a. Euroopa lõpphind on esialgu küll teadmata, kuid vähemalt Hiinas tahetakse autot turustada alguses 22k USD (280k EEK) piires. See on ju peaaegu mõistlik pereauto hind.