China getting ready for 5m plug-in vehicles by 2020

Imagine all of the cars and light-duty trucks in Washington and Oregon combined. Then imagine them all being either battery-electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. That's what Chinese leaders have in mind by the end of the decade.

The China State Council is pushing for a combination of automotive industry production and public acceptance to allow for as many as five million plug-in vehicles to be on the roads in China by 2020, Green Car Congress reports.

The Chinese government is also looking to boost average new-car fuel economy to about 47 miles per gallon in 2020 from about 34 miles per gallon in 2015, when the State Council is targeting for about a half-million vehicles to be electric drive.

China will enact a combination of research and development funding and subsidies that will be used to boost sales of plug-ins. The government will also speed up the development of an electric-vehicle charging infrastructure and will tilt tax policies to be more plug-in friendly.

China was already expected to account for a substantial chunk of the more than 600,000 plug-in vehicles expected to be sold in Asia Pacific by 2017, as forecast by green-technology research firm Pike Research last year. The auto industry is certainly getting ready. This month, General Motors debuted a demonstration fleet of Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in vehicles in China. GM and the China Automotive Technology Research Center (CATARC) will operate and study the fleet for about a year. At the Beijing Motor Show this week, a number of plug-in vehicles were on display, like the CH Auto Lithia and the Venucia E-Concept.


Source: Autoblog Green

China targeting 5M electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2020

China’s State Council will take steps to accelerate the promotion of pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, and popularize non-plug-in hybrid vehicles and more efficient internal combustion engine vehicles. The State Council is the highest executive organ of State power in China, as well as the highest organ of State administration.

The cultivation and development of the new energy and more efficient conventional vehicles will ease pressure on energy and the environment, promote the transformation and upgrading of the automotive industry, and foster new economic growth, according to the Council.

The State Council is targeting 500,000 plug-in vehicles by 2015, jumping up to 5 million by 2020. The government is also targeting a reduction in average fuel consumption of passenger cars from 6.9 L/100 km (34 mpg US) in 2015 to 5.0 L/100 km (47 mpg US) by 2020.

In a statement, the State Council outlined four primary steps to achieve its goals:

1. Technology. Establishing an R&D system to produce breakthroughs in core technologies, including batteries.

2. Popularization. Steps to accelerate the popularization will include broadening pilot demonstrations as well as subsidies to support the private purchase of new energy vehicles.

3. Infrastructure. China will build public fast charge facilities as well as develop battery recycling.

4. Tax and fiscal policy. Improvements to tax and fiscal policies are intended to create a conducive market environment.

The State Council stressed that the development of energy-saving and new energy automotive industry must avoid blind investment and redundant construction.



Source: Green Car Congress

GM China signs MOU with CATARC for Chevrolet Volt demo fleet

General Motors China has signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) to manage GM’s Chevrolet Volt demonstration fleet in Beijing for one year and to help organize workshops and seminars that will build support among decision makers and key stakeholders for vehicle electrification policy in China.

The demonstration fleet vehicles will be delivered to CATARC during April.

GM and CATARC will form a joint working team that will be responsible for gathering feedback from Volt demonstration fleet usage to better target discussions and actions to support new energy vehicle policy in China. Specific objectives and goals of the partnership will be developed through the working team. According to the MOU, both GM and CATARC will also study how real-world performance, charging and infrastructure for the Volt and other electric vehicles can address the varying needs of Chinese consumers.

This partnership is strategically important to us. The Volt, with its cutting-edge and practical technologies, will provide information to assist us in preparing the Chinese market for future electrified vehicles.
—CATARC Director Zhao Hang

According to Ray Bierzynski, GM China executive director of Electrification Strategy, GM’s relationship with CATARC will provide GM access to top opinion leaders and policymakers.

To support the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, GM has recently installed charging poles at Tsinghua University, the office of SAE China, a Chevrolet dealership in Beijing as well as GM’s China headquarters in Shanghai. The company plans to install charging facilities at CATARC’s Tianjin headquarters as well.

China is among the initial markets to introduce the Volt following the United States.

CATARC is the most important third-party automotive technology service organization recognized by the Chinese government. It is playing a critical role in the development of new energy vehicles.


Source: Green Car Congress

China team outlines 5 key areas of future research to realize Li-air batteries

In an open access paper published in the International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials, researchers from the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences review significant developments and remaining challenges of practical Li–air batteries and the current understanding of their chemistry.

The energy density of the lithium–air battery with respect to the anode could reach 13,000 Wh kg⁻¹—quite close to the 13,200 Wh kg⁻¹ of gasoline, they note. Although researchers have made significant progress, the Li–air battery is still at an embryonic stage, with numerous scientific and technical challenges that must be overcome if the promise is to be realized. From the perspective of the authors, the key areas for future research are as follows:

1. Porous carbon-based air cathode. The oxygen cathode is the key component related to the performance of a Li–air battery, in which the electrons are confined inside the electrode material while the oxygen is in both the gaseous and solution phases and the lithium ions are contained in the electrolyte solution.

   Design and synthesis of a novel porous carbon material with high conductivity, which would ensure sufficient pores to store discharge products, channels to diffuse oxygen and good electrolyte wettability. This would provide an adequate and suitable three-phase interface (solid–liquid–gas) for the charge/discharge process.

   This three-phase interface is very important for aprotic Li–air batteries, because only where the liquid electrolyte with Li⁺ ions, O₂ from the environment and the insoluble solid products, i.e. lithium oxides, coexist can they react simultaneously.

   —Zhang et al.

2. Screening bifunctional cathode catalysts with improved activity for both the ORR (oxygen reduction reaction) during discharge and the OER (oxygen evolution reaction) during charge, achieving a high round-trip efficiency.

3. Development of stable electrolytes with high O₂ solubility, excellent lithium ionic conductivity, low viscosity and vapor pressure. The organic electrolyte in an aprotic Li–air system stabilizes the anode, conducts Li⁺ ions, dissolves O₂ and provides a reaction interface. Properties of the electrolyte such as ionic conductivity, O₂ solubility, viscosity and contact angle strongly influence the cell discharge performance.

4. Developing a high lithium ionic conducting separator and a high throughout oxygen-breathing membranes used at the cathode to block H₂O, CO₂ and other air components except O₂.

   As an indispensable and important part of a Li–air battery, an ideal separator should be a determined block for gases, excellent penetrator for lithium ions, good reservoir for electrolyte, etc.

   —Zhang et al.

5. Understanding of the complex chemical reaction mechanisms that occur during charge and discharge.

   Up to now, no less than five different mechanisms for O₂ reduction in Li+ electrolytes have been proposed over the last 40 years based on electrochemical measurements alone. The mechanism for cathode reactions are complex and uncertain because they are electrolyte-, catalyst- and sometimes even battery operation environment-dependent. It is still a great challenge and intensive research is urgently needed to clarify the cathode reactions.

   —Zhang et al.

There are four basic chemical architectures of Li–air batteries being pursued worldwide, they note. Three versions use liquid electrolytes: a fully aprotic liquid electrolyte; an aqueous electrolyte; and a mixed system with an aqueous electrolyte immersing the cathode and an aprotic electrolyte immersing the anode. The fourth approach is an all-solid-state battery with a solid electrolyte. In their paper, the authors focused principally on the aprotic configuration of a Li–air battery as the one showing the promise of rechargeability, and the one that has attracted the most effort worldwide to date.

Source: Green Car Congress

GM launches Volt in China

General Motors of China will receive its first shipments of an undisclosed number of Chevy Volts for retail deliveries this month.

The vehicles are to be priced at $79,000 (RMB 498,00) and as previously reported, are not eligible for incentives available to buyers of domestically made electric vehicles.

GM has at least for now resisted sharing key details of the Volt’s intellectual property with its joint venture partners that would have been required for its domestic production, and possible incentive eligibility.

The first Chevrolet Volts arrived in China at the HaiTong Port in Shanghai.

The company reported it has already received an initial shipment of 10 Volts at the HaiTong port in Shanghai for a demonstration fleet to be deployed in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai.

“This fleet of extended-range electric vehicles will provide consumers as well as ministry leaders, university professors and the media with a chance to experience an industry leading electric vehicle in daily use,” the company said in a statement. “GM will use feedback from the test drives and charging experience to better understand the application of electric vehicles in China and provide consumers with hands on exposure to the extended-range vehicle concept. This is critical, as GM and its joint ventures prepare to expand the offerings of vehicles powered by electricity.”

The company said it will also work closely with government and industry officials to help develop public electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

“China is one of the first global markets where the award-winning Volt will be sold through 13 specially selected dealerships in eight major cities,” GM said.

Specifically, the Volt will be made available in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Foshan.

Source: GM-Volt.com

China May Overtake Germany as World’s Number 2 Luxury Car Market This Year

Despite being the world’s biggest car market, China ranks third in the luxury segment, trailing both the U.S. and Germany. Analysts, however, predict that this is about to change soon; in fact, it could even happen at the end of 2011.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Jenny Gu, an analyst at research company LMC Automotive, estimated that the number of luxury cars sold in China in 2011 may reach 939,000 units, surpassing Germany’s estimate of 914,000 sales.

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China May Overtake Germany as World’s Number 2 Luxury Car Market This Year

Despite being the world’s biggest car market, China ranks third in the luxury segment, trailing both the U.S. and Germany. Analysts, however, predict that this is about to change soon; in fact, it could even happen at the end of 2011.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Jenny Gu, an analyst at research company LMC Automotive, estimated that the number of luxury cars sold in China in 2011 may reach 939,000 units, surpassing Germany’s estimate of 914,000 sales.

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Chrysler Group Opens New Mopar Parts Distribution Centers in China and Dubai

The Chrysler Group's Mopar division is expanding its operations to support growth in international markets with the opening of two new parts distribution centers in Shanghai in China and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). .

Chrysler Group Opens New Mopar Parts Distribution Centers in China and Dubai

The Chrysler Group's Mopar division is expanding its operations to support growth in international markets with the opening of two new parts distribution centers in Shanghai in China and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). .

Court Approves Saab’s Bankruptcy, Appoints Two Receivers – But is it Really Over?

As expected, the District Court of Vanersborg accepted Saab’s request the same day, Monday December 19, and declared the Swedish carmaker bankrupt.

The company's CEO, Victor Muller, blamed General Motors for blocking every rescue attempt that involved the Chinese company Youngman Lotus Automobile, including its latest offer of a US$5 million funding to continue the restructuring process.

“That, basically, was the last nail in the coffin of this beautiful company”, said Muller only hours after requesting that Saab be declared bankrupt.

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Court Approves Saab’s Bankruptcy, Appoints Two Receivers – But is it Really Over?

As expected, the District Court of Vanersborg accepted Saab’s request the same day, Monday December 19, and declared the Swedish carmaker bankrupt.

The company's CEO, Victor Muller, blamed General Motors for blocking every rescue attempt that involved the Chinese company Youngman Lotus Automobile, including its latest offer of a US$5 million funding to continue the restructuring process.

“That, basically, was the last nail in the coffin of this beautiful company”, said Muller only hours after requesting that Saab be declared bankrupt.

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Saab Files for Bankruptcy After All Rescue Plans Fail, This Could be the End

It is sad news for the automotive world to learn of the demise of a company. Unfortunately, Monday December 19, will mark the end of the road for Swedish carmaker Saab – and this time it looks like it is final.

Earlier this morning, Swedish Automotive N.V. (Swan) announced that Saab Automobile, Saab Automobile Tools and Saab Powertrain filed for bankruptcy with the District Court in Vanersborg, Sweden.

This comes after Youngman, the Chinese company which last week promised to pay for the carmaker’s restructuring, informed Saab that it cannot provide the funding necessary for the continuation of the process.

Therefore, Swan concluded that, with GM vetoing any proposed plan until now, and without the essential funding, it would be insolvent. Thus, it was better for its creditors to file for bankruptcy.

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Saab Files for Bankruptcy After All Rescue Plans Fail, This Could be the End

It is sad news for the automotive world to learn of the demise of a company. Unfortunately, Monday December 19, will mark the end of the road for Swedish carmaker Saab – and this time it looks like it is final.

Earlier this morning, Swedish Automotive N.V. (Swan) announced that Saab Automobile, Saab Automobile Tools and Saab Powertrain filed for bankruptcy with the District Court in Vanersborg, Sweden.

This comes after Youngman, the Chinese company which last week promised to pay for the carmaker’s restructuring, informed Saab that it cannot provide the funding necessary for the continuation of the process.

Therefore, Swan concluded that, with GM vetoing any proposed plan until now, and without the essential funding, it would be insolvent. Thus, it was better for its creditors to file for bankruptcy.

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Porsche Sets New Delivery and Order Records Worldwide, China Sales Up by 70%

Demand for its models may have dropped significantly in Northern European countries such as Spain and Greece due to the financial crisis, yet Porsche is still set to achieve its best-ever year in terms of sales.

From January until November, the Stuttgart-based carmaker has delivered 109,709 units of the 911, Boxster/Cayman, Cayenne and Panamera models, a 24.6 percent increase over the same period in 2010.

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Porsche Sets New Delivery and Order Records Worldwide, China Sales Up by 70%

Demand for its models may have dropped significantly in Northern European countries such as Spain and Greece due to the financial crisis, yet Porsche is still set to achieve its best-ever year in terms of sales.

From January until November, the Stuttgart-based carmaker has delivered 109,709 units of the 911, Boxster/Cayman, Cayenne and Panamera models, a 24.6 percent increase over the same period in 2010.

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Saab Changes Administrator, Awaits Monday’s Court Decision

The ongoing story that is the future of Saab looks set to have more episodes than The Young and the Restless – and the CBS TV soap opera has been running since 1973…

Guy Lofalk, the court-appointed administrator who oversaw the restructuring of Saab and last Tuesday proposed that the process be terminated, quit his post.

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Saab Changes Administrator, Awaits Monday’s Court Decision

The ongoing story that is the future of Saab looks set to have more episodes than The Young and the Restless – and the CBS TV soap opera has been running since 1973…

Guy Lofalk, the court-appointed administrator who oversaw the restructuring of Saab and last Tuesday proposed that the process be terminated, quit his post.

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Will China’s New Tariffs Really Harm Foreign Manufacturers Like GM?

Yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that a new tax is imposed on U.S.-made vehicles with a motor capacity of 2.5-liters and above, effective today, December 15.

The so-called “anti-dumping” duties imposed not just on U.S. carmakers, but all companies that manufacture cars in the United States, were imposed because the Chinese authorities felt that U.S. imports were “damaging the local car industry”.

Most analysts, on the other hand, agree that this is China’s response to the World Trade Organization rejecting its appeal on U.S. duties on imported tires three months earlier.

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Will China’s New Tariffs Really Harm Foreign Manufacturers Like GM?

Yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that a new tax is imposed on U.S.-made vehicles with a motor capacity of 2.5-liters and above, effective today, December 15.

The so-called “anti-dumping” duties imposed not just on U.S. carmakers, but all companies that manufacture cars in the United States, were imposed because the Chinese authorities felt that U.S. imports were “damaging the local car industry”.

Most analysts, on the other hand, agree that this is China’s response to the World Trade Organization rejecting its appeal on U.S. duties on imported tires three months earlier.

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Mercedes-Benz Heading Toward New Production Record this Year

Europe may be facing troubles, but its luxury carmakers seem to be doing better than ever. Mercedes-Benz, for example, announced that it's on its way to produce more than 1.25 million vehicles in 2011, beating last year’s best-ever sales record and setting a new all-time high in its 125-year history.

“Mercedes-Benz is going on the attack”, said Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, member of the Daimler Board of Management. “We are securing our path to the top by extensively investing in the expansion of our high-performance production network.”

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