China to invest in green vehicles

China is to go head-to-head with America in producing electric vehicles thanks to investment of around £1 billion in the sector during the next three years.

It is hoped that around 500,000 electric and hybrid cars will be produced each year by 2011, representing a ten per cent average annual market growth. There is speculation that the Chinese car market will overtake Japan to become the world’s second largest car market this year and pass America to be the world’s largest within 12 years.

Huge investment in green transport

The funding for electric cars is part of a huge investment of £20 billion in alternative fuel vehicles before 2012.

The money will serve to develop, promote and maintain public transport vehicles powered by alternative fuels. China has recently announced that 60,000 alternative-fuel vehicles will be tested in 11 cities.

The proposal also includes plans to boost the ownership of green private cars through preferential tax rates for car makers who develop fuel-efficient cars and consumers who buy low-carbon green cars.

Chinese electric car

The Chery Automobile Company is the largest domestic car producer in China and the S18 model its first foray into the electric car market.

The S18 is able to travel up to 90 miles on a single charge. It can be fully charged in four to six hours from a household socket.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Electric cars have made little impact in Britain partly because of their limited range, but China is going to transform the market with this new crop of green vehicles.”

The electric car market in Britain

Green breakdown cover

The ETA provides motorists and cyclists with green breakdown cover.