"New energy car" classifications revised by Chinese government
2009 BYD F3DM - Click above for high-res image gallery
In China, the government tries to keep a tight reign on what companies can produce and sell. For example companies aren't allowed to get into the car business without prior approval from Beijing which is why the company trying to buy Hummer from General Motors is having a tough time right now. Companies that are already in the car business also have to get approval for new types of products like hybrids and EVs.
The authorities in Beijing have just revised the rules governing classification of some types of so-called "new energy" vehicles. There are now three main categories: mature technology, developing, and start-up technology. Mature technology includes hybrids with NiMH or lead acid batteries and these are now being treated as conventional products and can be produced at will. Developing technologies like lithium ion hybrids can now be produced but approval is required before they can actually be sold, which seems a bit odd. Why produce them if you can't sell them? Start-up tech includes fuel cells which are still largely at the research phase in China. The Chinese government wants five percent of all new vehicles sold in 2011 to include some kind of alternative drive system.
Gallery: 2009 BYD F3DM plug-in hybrid
Gallery: Detroit 2009: BYD F6DM and F3DM
[Source: Caijing]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ignatius 2:57PM (6/30/2009)
Well, at least they're keeping fuel cell technology in the hole. Lithium-ion battery technology should be considered mature by now, lead-acid and NiMH is pretty much dead for future cars.
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xyz 7:45PM (6/30/2009)
My conspiracy theory:
Who buys the most Chinese products?
The western world.
What is a major factor in making money to pay for Chinese products?
The car industry and their suppliers.
What if EVs would be introduced on a very wide scale?
Huge unemployment due to the simplicity of EVs.
Who is buying the next big TV from China then?
Not the guy who got sacked.
I must admit as much as I like EVs this is also very scary, however, as bad as this sounds we cannot hold on to things that don't make sense. Otherwise we still wouldn't have computers. In the long run we will be all better off but a t present we need to make the transition as smooth as possible and hope for other employment that are borne out of this.
But that's just my 5c.
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Henry 11:51AM (7/01/2009)
China has more privately-owned car companies then the USA and you are saying China has a "tight reign on what companies can produce and sell".
How much money did our government give to our car companies to dictate specific alternative energy production (fuelcell)? How much did China's?
China has a much more entrepeneurial & free car market then the US without a doubt.
Sam, I think you are a little too old to be in the car business - China has long changed since the war.
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