Uphill climb for electrics

The Chinese government began policy support for the sale and use of electric vehicles in 2009, but the results have been modest.

Statistics show that by the end of this March, fewer than 40,000 electric vehicles had been sold in the country and 80 percent of those were for public transportation.

As a result BYD, the Shenzhen-based company noted for its battery technology and new energy cars, began making pure electric buses.