China rolling out subsidies for hybrid cars
Ever since last summer's Olympic Games put the issues on the world stage, Chinese officials have been working hard to alleviate some of the poor air quality, high traffic and fuel consumption woes that its largest cities have been facing. Various measures have been put into effect, such as banning vehicles on specific days based on license number, lowering taxes on fuel efficient vehicles and raising the price of gas.
Chinese automakers have been working just as hard on new fuel saving hybrid vehicles, with companies like BYD, SAIC and Chery all working on hybrid vehicles. Now, the two hopeful solutions are set to merge as the government institutes a new set of subsidies for hybrid cars and buses.
To qualify, a hybrid passenger vehicle must achieve a relatively meager 5 percent improvement over its non-hybrid competition. Hybrid buses purchased by governmental agencies can qualify if they post at least a 10 percent efficiency improvement.
[Source: China Car Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt Groom 8:49AM (2/10/2009)
China, like most of their Green Counterparts the world over, seems to think that the best way to protect the environment is to keep poor people from getting ahead.
"You can't drive your car on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday! We are going to also artificially increase the cost of gasoline through taxation and the car you bought because it was cheaper than the car you would have liked to have bought will be taxed more heavily because it is bad for the environment! Bwa-ha-ha-ha!!!!"
I would just like to know how the Chinese Regime expects the people who most need their vehicles (such as taxi drivers and truck drivers, who have to pay the most in taxes and in fuel prices) will be able to afford these new hybrids if they lose half their work weeks to arbitrary regulations.
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Herm 9:39AM (2/10/2009)
If they complain they get a bullet in the back of the head, and then a bill for the bullet is send to the family. In the west, the greenies just shun you.
The cost of fuel in China is heavily subsidized, as a result drivers were not too worried about economy.. apparently they are reducing the subsidies, and the air quality problems are well known.
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Carney 9:53AM (2/10/2009)
Nice job ripping off the Chrysler 300, China. Typical.
Back on topic, what I find interesting is that they are putting serious money into methanol. Just Goggle "China methanol" to find loads of articles like this:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/11/methanol_the_of.php
Anyway they are well aware that they are even more dependent on outside oil than we are, and of course we control the sea lanes. Smart to be looking into a fuel source that can be made from just about anything.
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JKL 10:53AM (3/02/2009)
Wow, people are stupid. That is not a rip off of the Chrysler 300, that is a car made by MG Rover in England that a Chinese company recently purchased. It's not even a Chinese design. Stop acusing the Chinese of copying, you don't even know what you talking about.
People see what they want to see.