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China’s BYD Aggressive on Lithium Battery and Hybrid Bus Production

Cuong Huynh — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:26:51 +0000

Lithium Batteries

Chinese battery and electric automaker BYD Co. has set up a plant to mass produce lithium batteries for its electric cars in Huizhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, according to the China Securities Journal.

BYD, partly owned by Warren Buffet, has injected around five billion yuan (about 731.5 million U.S. dollars) into the operation of the Huizhou plant, which produces rechargeable batteries, automobile parts and handset components, the newspaper Xinhua reported.

Facilities for the production of batteries for the company’s electric cars are almost ready now, since construction began in September last year.

The Shenzhen-based company’s F3DM, China’s first plug-in hybrid, made its debut last December.

The Huizhou plant, the first eligible for mass production of lithium-ion batteries that are core technologies of BYD’s electric cars, is seen as a key step in the company’s electric car manufacturing. Source: xinhuanet.com

Hybrid Bus

In related news, on July 24, 2009, Shenzhen BYD Auto Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BYD Company Limited, signed the Equity Transfer Agreement as transferee with Foshan Weishang to acquire the entire equity interests of Hunan Midea Coach for 60 million Yuan (US$ 8.8 million.)

Hunan Midea Coach, with its headquarters located in Hunan Environmental Protection Industrial Park, used to be a company engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of buses and coaches. After this acquisition, Shenzhen BYD Auto Company Limited will hold all the shares of Hunan Midea Coach and BYD Company Limited will be granted the permission by the government to manufacture buses and coaches.

BYD envisions entering into the new energy (hybrid and electric) bus field through this acquisition and plans to produce new energy buses in 2010. Furthermore, BYD will manufacture passenger vehicles in Hunan and plans to produce car models C3, C6, F2 and others.

This acquisition contributes to BYD’s new energy bus manufacturing and marketing and further enhances its automobile production capacity.

China’s BYD Aggressive on Lithium Battery and Hybrid Bus Production is a post from: CleanCarTalk

First Automobile Works – Aggressive Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Manufacturer to China’s Market

Cuong Huynh — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:58:33 +0000

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles peeking into clean car industries and car manufacturers of China, India, South Korea and Germany. Please send comments and suggestions using our Contact page or by leaving a comment at the end of this article.

China FAW Group Corporation is currently billed as the number one automobile maker in China, and is also one of the oldest in the industry, dating back to 1953. FAW Group, or more commonly know as simply FAW, has a wide-ranging base of products, from passenger cars, mini (utility) vehicles, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pickup trucks, to commercial trucks, buses and coaches.

FAW also makes components and parts such as wheel rims, truck axles, engine parts and pumps. In recent years, FAW also entered several joint ventures with Toyota and other manufacturers in other countries such as Russia. In fact, its joint venture with Toyota became the reason for the existence of the Toyota Prius. Toyota also produced the Vios and Corolla models through a partnership with FAW’s Tianjin unit. Aside from that, FAW also worked with Volkswagen AG and came up with a high-tech production facility that produces large numbers of cars every year. The company has now grown to become the China FAW Group Corporation from its humble beginnings as a truck maker, and from 1953 up to the present, it has remained at the forefront of China’s car industry. Until now, it maintains its truck market but has expanded and is offering high-quality cars to other markets as well.

Another market that First Automobile Works is currently tapping is the clean car market. The industry has yet to grow, but First Automobile Works is working hard to achieve its goals in the clean car segment. Aside from its continuous efforts in improving sales and production of its current market offerings, the company is also paying attention to the production and development of hybrid cars.

FAW and Toyota Collaboration

One of the most popular and significant advancements in the clean car industry is the Toyota Prius, a heavily marketed hybrid car produced by Toyota in collaboration with FAW. Produced a few years back, the Prius was released in China after Toyota and FAW entered a 50-50 partnership venture. The Prius is a 1.5L vehicle and consumes 40.5% less fuel than the 1.6L gasoline vehicle Toyota Corolla. Recently Toyota announced that its latest generation Toyota Prius will start selling in China in 2010. Despite the Prius’ relatively high price tag (up to 280,000 yuan or US$41,000,) Toyota has reason to be optimistic with expected consumer incentives by China’s central government to spur sales of clean cars including electric and hybrids. Source: gasgoo.com.

China’s automobile industry is very ripe for the introduction of hybrid cars. With the Chinese government wholly supportive and with the subsidies being offered to taxi fleets as well as tax benefits offered to consumers who patronize clean cars, car manufacturers such as FAW and Toyota recognize that there is no better time to introduce hybrid cars to the Chinese market than now. These efforts to further the development of clean cars aim to reduce pollution and relieve oil shortage problems being experienced not just in China but all over the world. Nonetheless, the Toyota and FAW partnership is also planning to release about 400,000 compact, medium, and high-end buses and sedans by the year 2010 to the Chinese market.

More hybrid cars are being planned for release under FAW brand. In fact, the entire FAW Group is expected to release around 1,600 hybrid cars before the year 2012 ends. During the same timeframe, the company is hoping to produce 800 hybrid buses. Most of the hybrid cars are planned to have hybrid engine technologies sourced from Japan’s top car makers. Its hybrid vehicle products produced together with Toyota are expected to hit the global market since Toyota aims to distribute said products globally. These upcoming clean cars will be produced at a special hybrid car facility. FAW has also shown its determination to see the said project through to the end by increasing its investments. There is surely a lot to wait for from FAW.

CA6100SH8 Hybrid Coach

Since the early 1990s, many global bus chassis manufacturers followed FAW’s lead by making large investments toward the research and development of commercially viable hybrid-powered bus platform. With a strong code of environmental responsibility, FAW gave priority status to the development of new cutting edge hybrid bus chassis in early 2002 that could both lower vehicle emissions and increase fuel economy.

Envisioning the potential of FAW’s new technology, the project received full support from China’s central government, who has taken an aggressive stance within the current 5 year national development plan to reduce both emissions and fuel consumption nationwide. Through the joint efforts of FAW Group’s R & D Center and FAW Bus & Coach Company, two prototype hybrid-powered buses were completed by the Wuxi division of FAW Bus & Coach on Dec. 10, 2005.

The factory is now set to begin mass production of the new hybrid CA6100SH8 municipal transit bus, designed for today’s increasingly popular BRT systems (bus rapid transit) and traditional inner city mass transit. This revolutionary new model with 10 proprietary patents delivers a fuel economy increase of 38% and an emissions reduction of 30%, compared to traditional buses. With a Euro 3 emissions rating, the new 80kW parallel hybrid drive system is scheduled for Euro 4 certification by late 2006.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, twenty of these CA6100SH8 hybrid bus, called hybrid “City Bus,” successfully completed field trials on real passenger routes within the Olympic sector. The “City Bus” hybrid buses employed Enova Systems’ pre-transmission hybrid drive systems, and “exceeded all expectations” according to Liu Minghue, the Executive Director of Engineering for the FAW hybrid-electric transit bus trial.

Jiefang CA6120URH hybrid bus

This month Enova confirmed that it has delivered the first seventy (70) pre-transmission hybrid drive systems to First Auto Works. FAW has ordered an additional one hundred-fifty (150) hybrid drive systems for delivery in 2009. The Enova drive system will be integrated and branded in FAW buses under the name of Jiefang CA6120URH hybrid. The Jiefang 12 meter (40 foot) low floor hybrid bus can carry 103 passengers and travel at a maximum speed of 85 kilometers an hour (km/h) or 53 miles per hour (mph.) The bus meets Euro III emission standards. It will consume only 30 liters of fuel every 100 kilometers (equivalent to 7.84 miles per gallon) and discharge 20 percent less emissions.

According to a report on busesline.com, the municipal government of Dalian has ordered 150 of the Jiefang hybrid buses. Fifty of them will be running in the city during the Summer Davos event, which is the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2009, conducted by the World Economic Forum from 10-12 September, 2009. In October, another 100 Jiefang hybrid power buses will go into use in Changchun city, capital of northeast China’s Jilin province.

Groundbreaking For New Hyrbid Bus Plant in Dalian

To keep up with China’s central government’s goal of 500,000 electric and hybrid vehicles over the next hew years, FAW Group Corporation held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new-energy bus plant at Dalian Economic & Technological Development Zone on June 5. Attendees to the ceremony included officials from Dalian city, President Xu Jianyi of FAW Group and Vice President Qin Huanming of FAW Group.

Construction of the new production base of the new-energy vehicle is one of the important parts of FAW Group’s development plan. The new plant is scheduled finishing construction in July 2010. The plant’s annual production capacity is planned to reach 3,000 units including 1,500 hybrid buses before the year of 2013.

Visit FAW website, Enovasystems.com

First Automobile Works – Aggressive Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Manufacturer to China’s Market is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Chang’an Motors – First Chinese Hybrid Car Manufacturer Continues Momentum

Cuong Huynh — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:37:10 +0000

Chang’an Motors (also called ChangAn or Chana Auto) is part of the Chang’an Automobile Group, a car industry giant based in Chongqing, China. The name Chang’an, ChangAn and Chana are used interchangeably, with Chana being used mostly for the western markets. According the Chang’an, the company sales figures have been running at top speed in 2009, reaching 306,500 vehicles sold in the first 3 months or 40% increase over same period the previous year. Of the 2 logos at right, the red logo is used on commercial cars (mainly minivans and full-size vans), while the blue emblem is for passenger cars. Chang’an is now the fourth of the Big Five car manufacturers in China.

Chang’an maintains 3 divisions. The Chang’an Ford division, or Chana Ford, produces mainly the Ford Fiesta beginning in 2003, and the Ford Mondeo in 2004. The company also builds the Ford Focus as well. The Chang’an Suzuki division, or Chana Suzuki, manufactures the Alto, Cultus and Lingyang economy cars together with spare parts. Finally, the Chang’an engine division produces engines based mostly on Suzuki gasoline engine technologies, for many Chang’an vehicle products.

Below: Chang’an (Chana) Benni Mini Car, a Runaway Success. Photo courtesy http://www.globalchana.com

Below: Chang’an (Chana) CM8, Another Popular Model. Photo courtesy http://www.globalchana.com

While there have been hybrid cars on Chinese roads over the pass years, the affordability factor (or the lack of it) has provided Chang’an Motors and other Chinese manufacturers a huge opportunity to develop China’s own clean car industry. And this is exactly what they are doing. Below are two hybrid cars produced by Chang’an that have received much anticipation.

Jie Xun HEV: China’s First Independently Developed Hybrid

First introduced in 2007, the Jie Xun HEV is classified the company as an MPV, a multipurpose vehicle. MPVs are very popular in China, much like the minivans in the United States, because they offer both private and business owners the space and quality needed to go about their daily lives. The Jie Xun is expected to cut fuel consumption by 20% compared to conventional models, and sells in the Chinese market for about 104,800-149,800 RMB (US$ 15,326-21,907.)

Chang’an also donated 20 of the vehicles to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, when they were used mainly as taxis for both athletes and the public. According to Infineon, the German company that supplied HybridPACK1 power module for the Jie Xun, these mild hybrid cars operate on an integrated starter generator that recaptures energy during braking (regenerative braking or regen) while provides supplementary power during acceleration or passing at speeds. The Jie Xun HEV has a maximum speed of about 160 km/h (99 mph,) and can achieve a fuel efficiency of 9 l/100 km (26.1 mpg.)

Chang’an (Chana) Jie Xun HEV Interior.
Photo courtesy http://news.cheshi.com

Chang’an (Chana) Jie Xun HEV for Beijing Olympic Games. Photo courtesy http://news.cheshi.com

Zhi-xiang Hybrid Sedan: Another Step to Affordable Hybrids For the Mass

The new Zhi-xiang mild hybrid sedan features a 1.5L gasoline engine to keep its nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries charged, and a permanent magnet brushless synchronous AC motor rated at 13 kW. This hybrid sedan can get about 6.6 l/100 km (35.6 mpg.) With aggressive marketing in full force for the Zhi-xiang, the company has appropriately branded both sides and the back of the vehicle with an attractive green hybrid badge. The Zie Xiang 79800-115800 RMB (US$ 11,670-16,935)

China, which ranks second in the world in carbon emission levels, may soon surpass the U.S. as the most polluted country. With the Chinese government placing emphasis on the development and production of clean cars, Chang’an is clearly gearing up its hybrid offerings. Hybrid cars can help lower fuel emissions and reduce pollution to relieve the global warming concerns, and Chang’an along with other Chinese carmakers are determined to make a difference.

Chang’an (Chana) Zhi-xiang mild hybrid sedan.
Photo courtesy http://news.cheshi.com

Chang’an (Chana) Zhi-xiang hybrid badge.
Photo courtesy http://news.cheshi.com

According to the company’s English language website globalchana.com,

…CHANA has producing capacity of one (1) million automobiles and one (1) million engines. By year 2010, CHANA will have a producing capacity of two (2) million automobiles. CHANA Automobile brand value has reached 20 billion RMB [editor's note: about US$ 2.9B] which is one of the most valuable independent automobile brand in Chinese automobile industry…

As reported by a Reuters article on May 14, 2009, the Chongqing government has already ordered 10 Jie Xun from Chang’an and has set a target for the city’s public services to increase hybrid vehicle operation to 1,000 units in 3 years. Additional government rebates of 43,000 RMB (US$ 6,300) to buyers of electric, hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles will continue to keep the momentum of both clean car suppliers and buyer adoption going strong.

Get ready. These cars may arrive on U.S. soil before you know it.

Chang’an Motors – First Chinese Hybrid Car Manufacturer Continues Momentum is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) – Giant Chinese Carmaker to Stir Up Excitement

Cuong Huynh — Sat, 30 May 2009 19:57:12 +0000

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, or SAIC Motor, is China’s largest car manufacturer. The automotive firm is actually a government-owned company and operates from 50 different plants scattered all over Shanghai. SAIC has a very wide product range, providing passenger cars, commercial cars, tractors, trucks, buses, motorcycles, and auto parts. These products are marketed by different brands such as Shanghai-Sunwin Bus Corporation, Shanghai-Huizhong Automotive Manufacturing, Shanghai-Xingfu Motorcycle, among others. The company also controls a number of brands more familiar to Western consumers, including the some General Motors and VW brands, Rover (now called Roewe) and MG brands.

Between 2001 and 2004, SAIC Motor briefly owned 20% of Chery Automobile, another big car manufacturer in China. Additionally it owns 51% of the South Korean SsangYong Motor Company. Furthermore, SAIC Motor has the brand MG Rover under its wing as well when it acquired Nanjing Automobile Corporation. Rover is now called Roewe, and the company currently produces the new MG 7, MG 3SW and the MG TF.

SAIC Motor Brands. Courtesy SAIC Motor.

SAIC Motor also nurtures two business partnerships with General Motors. One is the Shanghai General Motors Co., Ltd. or Shanghai GM (SGM), and the other is a joint venture with GM and Liuzhou Wuling Motors Co., Ltd. called SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd. or SGMW.

SGM has 3 major manufacturing plants, 4 vehicle production factories and 2 power train companies. It manufactures and markets the Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac vehicles. SGMW specializes in the mini and small car segment of China now, and possibly globally in the future.

Additionally SAIC collaborates with Volkswagen as the Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd., which makes the VW Santana for China consumers.

Recently, the Chinese government has been promoting the development of fuel-efficient, environment-friendly cars. Part of the agenda is to provide tax benefits to consumers who purchase what are now called “clean cars” and public taxi fleets are also given subsidies to acquire the new environment-friendly car models. As a government-owned company, SAIC Motor was one of the first to respond to the call. The company has announced that it is set to launch its first hybrid car in 2010 to be marketed under the SAIC brand and not under any of SAIC’s foreign ventures. The Roewe 750 hybrid sedan.

Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid Sedans

SAIC Roewe 750 Hybrid Sedan. Courtesy cn.autoblog.com.

The Roewe 750 hybrid sedan plans to use U.S.-sourced parts, particularly from A123 Systems, a battery maker in Massachusetts, and from Delphi Corp., an auto parts maker in Michigan. It is based on the Rover 75 model with what look slike minor bodywork changes.

The hybrid alternative-fuel propulsion technology vehicle is currently termed as a mild hybrid car because it still sources power from the gasoline engine but has an electric motor with iron-phosphate-based lithium-ion batteries that offers only assistance, following in the footsteps of the Honda Civic hybrid and the Toyota Prius. This configuration is expected to cut fuel consumption by 20% when compared to the Rover 75, according to estimates by the company.

SAIC Roewe 550 Plug-In Sedan. Courtesy xgo.com.cn.

Also in the work is SAIC Motor’s first plug-in hybrid mid-class sedan called the Roewe 550 for 2012 market release. The car is expected to save up to 50% fuel consumption and will be priced between 142,800-189,800 RMB (US$ 20,900-27,800) depending on models and options, according xgo.com.cn.

More hybrid models are planned for 2011-2012 mass release. The next three years are filled with plans for these clean cars, though overseas release has not yet been announced. As of press time, SAIC expressed that it has no overseas plans yet and plans to focus its efforts mostly on the expansion of the domestic Chinese market, despite the reported use of U.S. technologies in its clean car development projects.

All this excitement is made possible by a new R&D arm the company recently created. SAIC Motor launched a power train joint venture in early 2009 called Shanghai Jieneng Automotive Technology for the development of hybrid and electric power trains. The new car technologies to be developed here will aim to design, build and integrate lithium-ion batteries, and to reduce fuel consumption by 20% in their future cars. The new venture has SAIC Group owning 90% and SAIC Motor the other 10%, with eventual investment to reach 2 billion yuan or US$ 293 million.

With an agreement signed with the government of Shanghai to supply about 1,000 clean, alternative energy cars for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the vast China market is ready for SAIC’s new, clean and environmentally friendly cars. It will be only a matter of time before this giant Chinese carmaker take its products across the world.

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) – Giant Chinese Carmaker to Stir Up Excitement is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group – Gearing Up to Build Own Branded Cars

Cuong Huynh — Mon, 25 May 2009 13:00:36 +0000

Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group is one of the significant car makers in China. Compared with other major Chinese car makers, Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group or GAIG has not been in the industry for very long since it was established back in the year 2000. It is, however, authorized to acquire state assets and receives subsidies from Guangzhou province itself. It has enjoyed huge growth since and is now named as the second in the “Big Five” car makers of China, which also includes First Automobile Works, Chang’an Motors, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, and Chery Automobile.

Guangzhou also has strong partnerships with Japanese carmakers Isuzu, Toyota, and Honda. It has partnered with these companies in the production of Isuzu buses, Honda’s Accord and Odyssey, and Toyota Camry. Currently, Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group is working on several upcoming models, most of which will be provided for the domestic market. Its joint ventures with foreign car makers are usually the ones exported overseas.

As expected, GAIG also responded to the call for clean cars as concerns regarding global warming and fuel emissions arise. In fact, it has invested around $900 million to the development of green, fuel-efficient vehicles, with optimistic goals to release the planned vehicles by 2010. Guangzhou will be introducing hybrid cars together with Toyota under the Guangzhou Toyota Motor joint venture. There are three strategic models as of now, and two have been introduced. The Toyota Camry was used as the primary platform for the new cars.

A-HEV Torino design hybrid

Guangzhou Auto Group, however, the company’s Chinese base, has also developed a hybrid crossover concept model known as the A-HEV. The vehicle was presented during the Guangzhou International Auto Show in 2007, but probably will not see production. Rather it may serve as a basis for things to come from GAIG in the future, as the company is responding to encouragement from the central government to develop original, Chinese-branded cars.

The A-HEV has been described as a promising clean-burning vehicle and is one of the most advanced technologies in China’s clean car industry. The A-HEV was developed with the help of Honda, Toyota, and Italy’s Torino Design. The Torino design was right on mark, meeting the requests for a “sporty and dynamic design but not at all aggressive,” as described by Torino’s design boss. The A-HEV has a unique body styling which uses polycarbonate panels and a drive-by-wire technology. Since it was released as a design concept car, no specifications regarding its speed and mileage have been provided. Nonetheless, Guangzhou is committed to pushing the project forward to contribute to the shift towards using green cars.

GAC VIP Lounge-courtesy chinacarforums.com

According to company website, “GAIG has established three modern automotive production bases and a batch of component manufacturing companies and service trade companies which are of high standard, professional and systematically administrated by cooperating with the world-noted companies, and has primarily formed 6 sectors, that is, passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle, motorcycle, component, service and trade, and R&D, concering business of automotive manufacturing, component manufacturing, R&D, service and trade.”

GAIG achieved sales volume of 510,000 vehicles and 890,000 motorcycles in 2007, and its auto group has invested about 6.8 biillion yuan ($973 million) in the research and development of its own car brand. New sedans like the concept VIP Lounge are expected to roll out of its new plant in 2010. Rumors has it that the GAIG sedan will be based on the platform of Alfa Romeo’s largest vehicle – Alfa 166.

Photos courtesy chinacarforums.com.

Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group – Gearing Up to Build Own Branded Cars is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Great Wall Motor – Bringing Hybrid and Electric Cars to Market

Cuong Huynh — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:00:54 +0000

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles peeking into clean car industries and car manufacturers of China, India, South Korea and Germany. Please send comments and suggestions using our Contact page or by leaving a comment at the end of this article.

Great Wall Motor Company Limited, often called simply GW or GWM, is currently the largest private car manufacturer in China. With soaring financial investments, GWM has made its way to the list of the Top 500 Enterprises of China. It has an international sales network, selling to about 60 different countries. The company focuses more on developing countries, and their overseas sales account for around one-third of the total sales.

The company is making serious progress with a number of hybrid and electric cars and trucks to enhance its already strong line of products. And like many other Chinese car manufacturers in recent years, GWM is making its presence known with appearances at the largest auto shows around the world. Here’s a quick look at some clean cars produced by GWM.

The Great Wall Hover CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) was the first car made from China that was mass produced and exported to the Western Europe area. They currently market to Italy, Cuba, Lima, and several other countries. According to Great Wall’s news release,

Hover hybrid vehicle is new energy vehicle newly-developed with 2.4 L and 160 km/h meeting Euro IV Emission Standard. Inheriting all the advantages of successful Hover CUV, Hover hybrid vehicle is equipped with 4G69S4N hybrid engine, 6 gear automatic transmission and start/stop system, which can realize engine shut-down at idle speed to save more than 15 % of fuel consumption in the city traffic.

The company’s specialty is large vehicles such as SUVs and pick-ups. Nonetheless, they also have city cars and compact multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs.)

Great Wall offers several new releases of high mileage, low-emissions cars. To date, it has announced the entrance of 12 new cars including Great Wall Hover H5, Great Wall Hover M3, and the sub-compact vehicle Hover M1. Among the 12, there will be 4 sedans, 5 SUVs, and 3 pickups. For complete current line of cars offered by GWM.

The four new Great Wall sedans are marketed as extremely fuel-efficient, following the clean car trend that has overtaken China’s car industry. The 1.5L Coolbear is one of these clean sedans, as well as the 1.3L Cross and 1.5L Cross sedans. Another sedan model, called CH031, will also be released soon, also with 1.3L and 1.5L models. The SUVs from Great Wall mostly comes with 2.0L or 2.5L engines, though later models are still expected, these with 1.5L engines.

There’s also the GW FEELFINE, a sedan and a hatchback combined into one. Great Wall combines a fashionable and a functional car into the GW FEELFINE. The car is marketed to the family and the business market, with its spacious interior and large luggage space. The car’s body is designed using steel plates and laser-welded metal sheets. There are anti-impact bars on the front doors and the rear doors. The GW FEELFINE is also considered as a clean car with its environment-friendly performance. The car can go up to 108 mph (174 km/h) and achieves 36.6 mpg (6.43L every 100 kilometers). Its 1.5L gasoline engine meets the Euro IV Emission Standard, and eco-friendly materials were mostly used in line with the environmental concerns of China’s car industry.

Another new product is the GW KULLA, recently unwrapped at the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show. GW KULLA is an all-electric vehicle. The new car is said to be driven entirely by electricity. It has a 48V DC motor and can go up to 87 miles (140 km) with a speed of 40 mph (65 km/h) in a single charge. According to the company, The KULLA (“wizard”) also features an advanced lithium-ion battery pack, and when combined with the DC motor, will produce 67 horsepower. The car can be quick-charged to 70 percent of capacity in 10 minutes. A full charge takes five to six hours. Although not speedy, the new electric car is the embodiment of China’s shift to clean cars. The car is also not a high mileage offer, but its mid-mileage can take everyday driving around a medium to large city with a single charge. The new model, as a clean car, promises zero emission at a low cost.

Great Wall Motors KULLA all-electric car

Great Wall Motors PERI EV all-electric car

Finally, there’s also the GW PERI EV, which is based on the popular Great Wall car, GW PERI. The EV version is the electric vehicle version of the PERI, featuring a 50Kw permanent magnet brushless DC motor in the place of the PERI engine. The GW PERI EV is a zero-emission car and promises faster speeds than the GW KULLA, obtaining up to 80 mph (130 km/h). It comes with an additional lithium-ion battery for reliable performance. The PERI EV can fulfill a big hole in the market that sorely needs its zero-pollution performance, range, speed as well as affordability.

Great Wall Motor – Bringing Hybrid and Electric Cars to Market is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Dongfeng Motor Corporation – Becoming a Major Hybrid Car Manufacturer

Cuong Huynh — Sat, 09 May 2009 02:29:27 +0000

Dongfeng Motor Corporation is China’s second biggest car manufacturer. Dongfeng was founded in 1968, and the company focuses on the manufacture of passenger and commercial vehicles, engines, and other auto parts. It currently operates from various business locations scattered all over China.

Dongfeng has entered into a variety of joint manufacturing ventures with foreign car manufacturers. With joint ventures with Nissan, Peugeot-Citroen, Honda, Kia, and several other foreign manufacturers, Dongfeng has come up with several great automobile products, offering various options for consumers. It also has several new products in store for consumers. Most of the products are products of Dongfeng’s joint ventures with foreign companies, and some are also part of long-term business plans leading to the development of clean cars.

Dongfeng Motor Corporation, as one of China’s biggest players in the automobile industry, is also a significant contributor to the development of clean cars. The trend to develop environment-friendly cars has overtaken China’s auto industry, and Dongfeng was one of the first to respond to the call. Incidentally, Dongfeng is also one of the companies leading the way in not just manufacturing, but also the designing of hybrid cars. They have shifted their focus from high-emission cars to fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles. Dongfeng, however, already sells hybrid cars, particularly the Honda Civic hybrid cars, thanks to its ventures with Honda.

Citroen Elysee. Courtesy http://citroens.citroen1.info/China/

Donfeng has a lot in store for consumers. Included in the list of what to expect from Dongfeng is the hatchback C-Elysee, C-Quatre sedan, and the C5. All three will pass through the China IV emission standards. Recently, Dongfeng, in cooperation with Nissan, has also released several new models such as an X-Trail SUV, the new Sylphy Bluebird sedan, and the Nissan Teana. The new Sylphy will be bigger than the current model but will retain its affordable price. The new cars are great for families and are available in different 1.6L and 2.0L models.

Aside from these, however, Dongfeng is set to release special clean cars such as the EQ7200HEV, a mid-sized hybrid car that runs on a combination of gas and electric. It has a 1.6L gas engine plus lithium batteries. The vehicle’s design is based on the classic style of the Nissan Bluebird. It was exhibited at the 5th International Clean Vehicle Technology Exhibition and its production has been accelerated. Initial expectations are set on selling around 5000 units of the new Dongfeng hybrid car in a year; however, international distribution plans have not been announced yet, so it is not known whether the hybrid car will be made available outside of China.

Dongfeng EQ7200HEV hybrid car

Dongfeng Motor Corporation dealer in Beijing

Dongfeng has reportedly inched ahead of General Motors in car sales, thanks primarily to its strong bonds with its Japanese partners, Nissan and Honda. More hybrid cars are still in the works for the Chinese giant, showing the company’s determination to shift to environment-friendly products. With the government offering incentives to bolster the growth of the clean car industry in China, Dongfeng is determined to stay ahead in the game.

Photos courtesy:
Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile
DongFeng Citroën Elysee
Chinacartimes.com

Dongfeng Motor Corporation – Becoming a Major Hybrid Car Manufacturer is a post from: CleanCarTalk

Clean Cars Made in China: a Look at China’s Low-Emission Car Industry

Cuong Huynh — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:15:26 +0000

Editor’s note: This is the first of a series of articles peeking into clean car industries and car manufacturers of China, India, South Korea and Germany. Please send comments and suggestions using our Contact page or by leaving a comment at the end of this article.

China is becoming a force to reckon with in the auto industry, and I’m not talking about the huge potential number of car-buying consumers. I’m talking about China’s car manufacturing industry. And specifically clean, low-emission cars.

Recently, China has adopted new measures to boost its car industry, especially in the clean car arena, despite the global economic crisis. Chinese-made cars started to receive much attention in recent major auto shows. It took China some time to jump on the bandwagon, but now that it has set its goals, the way forward seems quite clear. And with China in on the game, it would only be a matter of time before China flexes all of its muscles to provide clean cars for the rest of the world, and in so doing, change the world’s transportation industry.

In 2006, China became the third largest automobile manufacturer in the world behind only to Japan and the United States. Currently it has the second largest automobile market in the world, following only behind the U.S. It will be only a matter of time before many million more Chinese consumers can afford cars of their own. The car population was last recorded at 19 million back in 2005. Now, the car industry has set its sights on developing not just cars, but environment-friendly cars. And when such promise can be harnessed to promote environmental safety, changes are sure to come.

Getting in the Game

China is one of the leading pollution emitters in the world, right alongside the United States. Fortunately, because of its sheer size, it also has the best potential to make a big difference fast when it comes to low-emission automobile development. China has a strong eco-friendly legislation system and has a growing automobile market with capital investments to spare for the development of low-emissions vehicles. China’s market also has a global reach, which means that if China starts coming out with eco-friendly vehicles, the vehicles are sure to be affordable, much like most other Chinese exports. Aside from that, the Chinese government is also quite willing to invest and commit resources to the clean car technology.

China has never been known to be a leader in quality car manufacturing. The quantity may have been there, but quality would be lacking. It was only in 2001 that China decided to prioritize its clean car research and development industry, particularly the creation of fuel cell cars, hybrid cars, and electric cars. This was already after the year 2000, when Japan already had thousands of electric cars. During the same year, the United States was setting long-term goals and Europe has invested a lot of money on fuel cell buses. But since China decided to take on this road, it had no problem catching up. Before long, the country’s clean car industry was creeping ahead the countries that sparked its motivation to create clean cars in the first place.

Developing Clean Vehicles

Clean cars come in different types, mostly in the form of electric cars, fuel cell cars, and hybrid cars. Electric cars run purely on battery power and are known for their zero emission rates though they are only ideal in specific driving circumstances. Fuel cell cars, on the other hand, runs on hydrogen fuel with byproduct being heat and water. Hybrid cars employ power from both a rechargeable battery pack and an engine (running on one of various standard fuels) to achieve very high mileage. All three types have the common element of using battery packs to power part or all of their propulsion needs.

It took China around five years to come up with functional models of all three types of cars. Despite China’s slow rise to the challenge, what it does, it does quite well. In fact, its fuel cell car was hailed as one of the most successful among all the fuel cell cars in the Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2006 Paris competition. The car, called the Chao Yue No. 3, brought home four gold awards in total. They have also started using hybrid cars for public transportation and electric cars for export.

The Chuangxin No. 1 fuel cell buses are now being used in seven Chinese cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, and Wuhan. The buses are noticeably very quiet and boast of high mileage at about 18.6 thousand miles (30 thousand kilometers) of service.

With these accomplishments China has come a long way to reach its goals, with the main long-term goal being that the cars should reduce emissions by 30% and save gas by 30%. Speeds are expected to be at around 100 miles per hour or mph (160 kilometers per hour or km/h) for cars and 50 mph (80 km/h) for buses.

Chao Yue No. 3 fuel cell car

Chuangxin No. 1 fuel cell bus

The development in the Chinese clean car industry were led by Dongfeng Electric Car Co., Chery Automobile Co., and a few other leading car manufacturers in China. Some of the development were led by Dr. Yang Yifu, a researcher who worked on the electric car technology in Japan for three years. Going back to his homeland, Dr. Yang Yifu found that the concept of hybrid cars was not well known in the country. In fact, a lot of people in the Chinese car industry were still uncertain about such new idea. Eventually, Chinese car companies got it and began launching their own thrust into the eco-friendly automobile industry.

Chery Automobile

Not long after, the Chinese clean car industry was dubbed as the largest publicly funded development research in history of car manufacturing. Dongfeng brought hybrid buses to the market; Chery has done the same. According to Chery, their research and development is now focused on hybrid power. However, Chery’s hybrid-powered cars are different from other popular hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius. The Toyota Prius is a high technology hybrid car that saves more gas but is very costly to produce. Chery, on the other hand, is developing mid-range and short-range hybrid cars to lower production costs, while maintaining a faster development cycle and shorter time to market. Chery has released the S18EV, a vehicle that runs on electric battery, promising 93 miles or 150 km range on one charge.

BYD Auto

Another industry leader is BYD Auto, a lithium-ion battery manufacturer and now a revolutionary car company based in Shenzhen, China. BYD , or “Build Your Dreams,” has started to showcase its E6 electric car at major auto shows around the world. The all-electric sedan is set for mass production and is highly promising. The E6 uses a revolutionary ferrous battery designed by its experienced battery engineers. The electric car can drive up to around 249 miles (400 km) on one full battery charge and can reach top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h). The aim, according to BYD executives, is to create an electric car that “people can use like a normal car.” BYD has also come out with the F3DM, yet another revolutionary plug-in hybrid vehicle.

The Government’s Involvement

By the year 2020, about 20% of all cars roaming China are expected to be fuel cell cars, all made in China. If this goal were reached, then China would surpass United States and Japanese car manufacturers in the clean car industry.

To help with such lofty goal, the Chinese government now offers rebates to boost the use of hybrid and electric cars, and public transport fleets are encouraged to buy clean vehicles. The government has also released subsidies reaching up to about $8,000 to all taxi fleets and public transport agencies in thirteen cities China with every low-emission vehicle purchased. Setting up of charging stations for hybrid plug-in cars all over Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai is also part of the plan. Finally consumers are being encouraged to buy clean cars, with promises of tax credits to those who cooperate in the move towards clean car use.

The Future

The most important advantage of hybrid and electric cars is their ability to recover energy during slowing or stopping, and store it in battery packs for later reuse. This is called regenerative braking or regen, and it is exactly what makes hybrid and electric cars efficient and attractive: high mpg for hybrid cars or long range per charge for all-electric vehicles. In most Chinese cities, driving is done in relatively low speeds with lots of stop-and-go urban traffic. This presents the perfect environment for these low-emission cars to be more readil accepted and adapted by Chinese drivers.

As successes, challenges and opportunities emerge, China will probably continue to maintain an ambitious course on the future direction of its car industry. Now already in planning are more advanced models of hybrid cars, hydrogen fuel cell cars and electric cars. As its industry tries to fulfill its own consumers’ future need for efficient and affordable cars, China will no doubt look to export its products elsewhere as well.

Other Asian countries are obvious target markets. Next stops: Europe and America.

Clean Cars Made in China: a Look at China’s Low-Emission Car Industry is a post from: CleanCarTalk

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Clean Cars Made in China: a Look at China’s Low-Emission Car Industry

Getting in the Game

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The Government’s Involvement

The Future

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