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Electric vehicle an option for China

By Sun Xiaohua (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-14 15:27

As soon as the driver hits the accelerator, you are thrown back against the seat. The car climbs from 0 to 100 km per hour in about four seconds, as advertised. But unlike a Porsche or Ferrari, there are no fumes or gear changes and not much noise.

The 2008 Tesla Roadster, totally powered by electricity and unveiled in March in California, produces only one-tenth of the pollution of a normal gasoline-powered car. It is six times as energy efficient as the best sports car and produces zero tailpipe emission. More than just a commuter car, it easily achieves 450 km per charge.

"The electric sports car will fundamentally change the way we drive," predicts Tesla Motors CEO Martin Eberhard.

Ditlev Engel, president and CEO of Vestas Wind Systems A/S, says in Beijing that the Tesla Roadster provides a "marvelous, clean and renewable solution" to traditional transport. The Denmark-based company knows green power. To date, it has installed more than 32,500 wind power turbines in more than 60 countries worldwide.

"Vestas has booked a Tesla Roadster to a showcase of our business," he adds.

As oil becomes more difficult to access, techniques to create liquid fuels from coal are now being vigorously pursued in the US, China, India, Australia and South Africa.

Vehicles should be subject to similar energy labeling and efficiency improvement requirements as other energy-consuming appliances.

Figures showed that by 2006, China was home to approximately twenty-two million private motor vehicles. Around 6.4 million passenger cars were sold in 2007, with a further 2.5 million commercial vehicles, making a rise of 22 percent on the previous year.

At this staggering rate of growth, the total fleet could increase more than ten-fold to 250 million by 2030.

But the country is seeking its solution.

In Tianjin, a port city some 125 km to the east of Beijing, an electric vehicle factory is currently under construction, which will boast a capacity of 20,000 units per year.

When completed, the Tianjin-Qingyuan Electric Vehicle Company will be the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the world by some distance, and it will be a Chinese company using Chinese technology, with plans to export half of its annual production to the US and Europe.

In the same city, Vestas has operated seven factories to provide wind turbine equipment for both domestic and international market.

Built at total investment of 624 million yuan, factories produce generators, nacelles and blades, all important components in wind turbines.

And for the coming 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing has commissioned 50 buses powered by Li-ion batteries to ferry athletes and officials between venues.

The country or region will include anyone who is a net importer of crude oil, wishes to use indigenous energy resources as efficiently as possible, has a large or fast growing road transport sector, has a large or fast growing automotive industry, possesses or intends to invest in widespread electricity infrastructure, and is committed to tackle rising greenhouse gas emissions.