BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Chinese media) -- The launch of the
world's first commercialized plug-in hybrid electric car at the Detroit auto
show again put in the limelight China's unremitting efforts to develop a
sustainable and environmentally-friendly economy.
Chinese car-manufacturer BYD Auto's launching of a
range of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, which lured more than 1,000
journalists and industry insiders at the main floor of the ongoingDetroit show,
may have changed a bit the world's perception that Chinese products, including
their cars, are low-end.
One of BYD's e-cars, the "e6", can travel up to 250
miles (over402 km) purely on battery, more than double the range its Western
rivals can on a single charge. The BYD's innovative battery used in its dual
mode cars can fully charge in nine hours from a regular electrical outlet, or
much faster at charging stations.
China's BYD F6DM, powered by electric
motors and gasoline engine, is displayed at the North American
International Auto Show (NAIAS), in Detroit, the United States, January
11, 2009. (Chinese media/Hu Guangyao)
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Before the show, the Chinese carmaker had already
taken a step ahead of its Western and Japanese rivals, which also have heavily
invested on developing new energy cars. BYD's F3DM, a plug-in hybrid launched
last month, was at least a year ahead of General Motors' most anticipated Volt.
So far, only the U.S. auto giant and Toyota have announced plans to bring out
such vehicles by 2010.
Behind BYD's remarkable move is China's tremendous
efforts to promote green technology even though the global economic slump seems
to have moderated the ambition of some countries to fight global warming.
Under a plan to transform its economic development
mode into one featuring "less input, less consumption, less emission and high
efficiency," China pledges to cut the energy consumption usedto generate per
unit of GDP by 20 percent and major pollutants emissions by 10 percent between
2006 and 2010.
And the car industry, one of the major emission
producers, has drawn fair attention from the government. Over the last 10 years,
China has spent nearly 2 billion yuan (294 million U.S. dollars) developing cars
using alternative energies.
During the Beijing Olympics last summer, about 400
electric vehicles and more than 100 hybrid vehicles were used, as part of the
government's efforts to raise public awareness about clean energy.
It may not be easy for China to upgrade its economic
structure,especially under the current international economic situation. It is
equally a serious challenge to maintain an economic growth of 8percent in the
world's most populous country as the traditional exports of textiles and
manufacturing products declined due to shrinking demand from Western countries.
But at the Detroit auto show, the Chinese showed that
they havethe determination to reach their goal -- to maintain a fast but steady
economic growth while seeking to build an energy-saving eco-society.
Chinese eco-cars make a splash at
Detroit Auto Show
DETROIT, Jan. 12 (Chinese media) -- Over 1,000 journalists and
industry experts swarmed BYD Auto's news conference Monday, an almost
unprecedented scene for Chinese car makers in the history of the renowned
Detroit Auto Show.
The Shenzhen-based Chinese carmaker launched the
world's first commercialized plug-in electric vehicle at the Detroit show
Monday, a move described by some as a silver lining amid the pall of gloom cast
by the global financial slump. Full story
Auto firms line up electric cars to bright
mood at Detroit auto show
BEIJING, Jan.14 -- General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC, kept in
business by 17.4 billion U.S. dollars in emergency loans, are showing off
electric vehicles at the Detroit auto show that stretch the limits of current
technology.
Chrysler is forecasting sales of electric cars
exceeding 100,000 a year by 2013 and GM is counting on selling 60,000 of its
first electric car shortly after it goes on sale in 2010.Full Story
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