Hybrid cars rush to market, electric race towards future

"So you have limited market and limited sales. When the government sees people have much more interest in electric cars, and there are good electric cars in the market, they will build infrastructure," Lam said.

US luxury sports car maker Detroit Electric, a new player, bet its future on electric power in the high-end segments. The company offers only fully electric sports cars, and gives out a charging pile at purchase.

Fully electric power guarantees zero car emissions, as well as swift acceleration, quick response, and quiet engine operation. This has been seen in the fully electric sports cars including Mercedes SLS AMG Electric and Mini E.

"The pure electric motor is very small, and efficient in delivering a very good performance," said Lam

Chinese carmakers are generally fans of pure electric engines. Giant Chinese carmakers SAIC Motor, BAIC Group, GAC Group together with BYD are promoting and selling electric cars.

GAC Group's General Manager Zeng Qinghong said the route for GAC is "to start from hybrid and towards fully electric. Hybrid technology is more mature and more cost-effective."

"After the whole fully electric system, including battery, electric motor, and electric control, becoming mature and cost-effective, the direction will be fully electric vehicles in the future," said Zeng.

China has realized that, with such a large domestic car market, if the country can get electric vehicles to work, China will have the dominant global position, according to Bew.

"The Chinese government has development in infrastructure. It is development for the future, and it is development for the environment. It is good to have this future technology. To bring you from one point to another in a city, if you can ride 100 km, it's enough," said Hans-Peter Hauer, publisher and editor-in-chief of Motor Journal.

"The Chinese government is implementing very good policy. The policies cover financial and permit," said Lam.

In Shanghai and Guangzhou, customers who buy a fully electric car will get a car plate without charge and will not need to wait in the plate lottery process. Beijing, where car buyers have to wait for plate lottery, is reported to adopt this encouraging regulation this year.

"We haven't seen a particular successful way in any market yet," said Bew.