Chery to build hydrogen engines
Chery to build hydrogen engines
Chery Vice Chairman Mr. Yuan Tao Biao announced today that Chery plans to produce a hydrogen powered car within the next 3 years.
Mr. Yuan was quoted as saying “Within the next 3 years we will have a major break through in the development of hydrogen engines” Chery are currently working on hybrid engine development and also pure electric vehicles, as well as turbo vehicles.
Chery have shown off hybrid vehicles before, such as the Chery A1, and the A5, to date only the A5 has been produced.
Chery are reportedly working with the British enginering company, Ricardo, on their latest series of hybrid and regular engines.
Detroit Electric and Dongfeng get together
From a Detroit Electric Press Release:
*Wuhan, China, June 19, 2009:* Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Detroit Electric Holdings Ltd announced today the two companies have agreed tojointly research, develop, market and sell Pure Electric Vehicles (PEVs) in China, based on Detroit Electric’s advanced electric drive technology.
Based upon the strategic agreement signed today, Dongfeng Motor Corporationwill test and validate Detroit Electric’s patented electric drive technology with the intention to produce and market Dongfeng’s Pure Electric Vehicles(PEVs).
The parties are also in discussions to form a joint venture company to
manufacture, assemble, produce and supply the electric drive technology to the Dongfeng Group and other vehicle manufacturers.In addition, the two companies will study and explore the market entry
strategy under the Dongfeng and Detroit Electric brand.
Detroit Electric Chairman and CEO, Albert Lam, said: “We are excited at the opportunity to partner with yet another world-class automaker in order to accelerate the wide adoption of Detroit Electric’s electric drive technology and propel the PEV industry forward.”“This validation process is a major proof point for the technical leadership and commercial readiness of our electric motor drive technology. We look forward to working closely with Dongfeng and exchange our experiences,” he said.
This strategic cooperation with Dongfeng comes hot on the heels of Detroit Electric’s March 30 signing of Strategic Licensing and Contract Assembly Agreements with Proton, worth RM1.2 billion (US$331 million) annually.
Those agreements provided Detroit Electric with vehicle platforms and its first manufacturing base, and put it on the fast track to introduce a full line of innovative, practical and affordable pure electric vehicles to the global market.
Detroit Electric targets to sell 45,000 of vehicles across Europe, the
United States and Asia by next year; increasing to 270,000 by 2012.“This cooperation with Dongfeng allows us to work closely with a strong partner in China to explore various ways to enter the world’s largest vehicle market. I believe our PEVs will appeal to many Chinese consumers and benefit everyone,” Lam said.
China is committed to alternative clean vehicles and is offering financial and other incentives to encourage the adoption of zero emission vehicles. The country is set to become one of the key markets for Detroit Electric to realize its growth over the next five years.
Chang’an readying hybrids
Chang’an is well prepared for the upcoming green revolution, they’ve been selling some well designed cars for the past few years but sales have not been all that great. Their ben ben model was their greatest success so far, but their latest MPV and sedan offerings have not faired so well in the wealthy Eastern areas of China.
The sales set back is not delaying Chang’ans march towards a greener future, with the state owned automanufacturer planning to make two different hybrid cars, including a mini hybrid hatch/sedan.
Chang’ans first hybrid MPV, the Jiexun, was first shown off to the public in December 2007, since then it has been used as a taxi during the Beijing Olympics, and is expected to see service during the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.
The Jiexun can save upto 20% fuel over its gasoline counterpart, and it is also upto Euro5 emission standards.
Chang’ans up coming hybird sedan, based on the CV5 sedan, will give the consumer two different drivetrain options. The first one is expected to be a light, or mild hybrid, which would mean a larger than usual alternator to give the car stop/start ability, i.e. when it reaches a standstill at a traffic light then its engine will cut out until the accelerator is pressed again. The second drivetrain is to be a mixture of a 1.5l 93# gasoline using car and a CNG gas tank to give the car the option of different fuels, it’s likely that this particular model will be offered to cab drivers who prefer the cheaper CNG.
BYD F3DM sales to be open to consumers
The BYD F3DM became the first Chinese mass produced hybrid vehicle when it was announced earlier this year, initially it was only available to government buyers. The Shenzhen government, did buy several vehicles, and the Hong Kong are also planning to put 80 of the vehicles into trials around the island. BYD are looking to sell the F3DM direct to consumers soon through its dealership network across China.
The BYD F3DM is capable of driving for 100km on its electric engine before it needs recharging, otherwise a 1.3l engine seamlessly kicks in and delivers power to the front wheels in an effortless manner.
The BYD F3DM did not sell exceptionally well when it was initially launched, but by opening the F3DM to private buyers BYD is expecting to flood their order books, which will help BYD to lower the price of the F3DM from 160,000rmb (nearly $22,000USD), however Shenzhen city are offering upto 50,000rmb in subsidies to hybrid buyers, as are various other cities around China.
If BYD cant sell these cars, then they never will. BYD need to make people look beyond the technology, and look at the savings consumers will be able to make.
Chengdu Yema hybrid motor
Chengdu Yema are a strange company, they are based way down in South West China, but have somehow managed to get hold of the tooling for the ancient Austin Montego/Maestro range, and built their own Subaru Forrester like vehicle on top of it, so it comes as a surprise that this backward facing company, is also looking towards the future with this model. The below car is a hybrid city car that Yema hope to start producing soon, it is allegedly built off French technology (possibly from a bankrupt electric car outfit?):
Hummer talking alternative fuel within 5 years
China Car Times recently reported on Sichuan Tengzheng’s purchase of Hummer, and the possibility that the Central Government may actually block the purchase.
Hummer CEO James Taylor certainly seems confident in the deal, and is even talking about a future for Hummer which includes alternative energy models.
Speaking with The Detroit Bureau, Hummer CEO James Taylor said in response to the question of alt-fuel Hummers:
“It’s a big number to take on, a ground-up hybrid or electric vehicle, but it’d make a lot of sense for the Hummer brand,” he said.
When probed on whether such a vehicle would appear in five years time, Taylor responded:
“I think five years out, excellent, assured. It’s 100%. It’s a choice, then, of which one makes the most sense.”
Stranger things have happened, but it felt strange indeed adding a “Hummer” category to CCT Green!
The Motor Report has more on the story.
Chonqing energy-saving, new energy auto industry alliance established
In March, an Alliance of new energy automotives was founded in Beijing, with the likes of Foton and Beijing Bus Group involved, the focus would seem to be on alternative energy trucks and buses (although Foton does have the Midi.)
Now Chongqing are getting in on the act too, and have formed their own snappily titled Chongqing energy-saving and new energy auto industry alliance, spearheaded by Chang’an.
With over 30 automakers, components producers and research institutes, the alliance is aimed at building the largest new energy vehicle research and development, manufacturing and application base.
Chongqing municipal government will allocate 1 billion yuan to support the enterprises involved in this industrial base, and will also roll out favorable policies on many aspects including land-use, taxation, logistics and the pilot operation programs of new energy vehicles.
Beijing has cleanest month in 9 years!
So says China Daily:
Blue skies are shining on Beijingers.
The city experienced its best month of air quality since 2000 with 23 blue-sky days in April.
Experts credit measures to protect the environment and the sluggish economic slowdown for the improvement.
“Thanks to consistent environmental protection measures such as traffic control, green construction and a ban on heavy-polluting vehicles, we have achieved great improvement in the capital’s air quality,” Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing municipal environmental protection bureau, told China Daily on Friday.
Air quality is measured by the air pollution index (API), which monitors the level of five airborne pollutants.
A blue-sky day is when the city’s API falls below 100, meaning there are no health implications.
With only seven slightly polluted days, Beijing saw 23 clean days last month, four more than the same period last year.
And for the first time in nine years there was no day with an API over 150, a level when people with breathing or heart problems should limit outdoor activities. The concentration of particulates in the air also dropped 25 percent from the previous year.
Besides strict environmental protection measures, experts think the global economic slowdown might be playing a positive role in environmental protection.
Zhu Tong, an environment professor with Peking University, told China Daily on Friday that heavy industry has decreased production in many polluting factories, which benefits the air.
“Most companies in heavy industry are seeing fewer orders. The output of the Shougang Group this year so far equals the same period during the Olympics,” said Wang Dawei, head of the air quality control division of the Beijing municipal environmental protection bureau.
In the first season this year, the added value for ferrous metal and chemistry manufacturing in the capital was 3.36 billion yuan ($490 million) and 1.85 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 18.1 percent and 17.9 percent respectively.
With all these factors working together, Beijing has seen 96 blue-sky days so far this year, putting it well ahead of pace to achieve its target of 260 blue-sky days for the year.
Prior to the 2008 Olympics, many high-polluting plants like Shougang Group, which produces iron and steel, were moved out of the city and gas stations were revamped to curb petroleum vaporization.
All these measures helped the capital’s number of blue-sky days rise to 274 last year from 100 in 1999, when the government launched its anti-pollution campaign.
Miles EV to get airing on June 3rd
The Miles EV is set to launch on June 3rd, a few days from now, and is more than likely to be based on a Hafei Saibao.
Yet another electric car is getting its Ps and Qs in line to debut for the public. On June 3rd, Miles EV, will unveil its highway capable electric sedan.
Unlike the exotic fare delivered by startups like Tesla and Fisker, Miles wants to play it bland. According to a conversation we had with their spokesperson, the car will travel 90-120 miles at 65 miles per hour, though it can hit 80 mph. Miles wants to sell its sedan for $45,000 and it hopes to meet the most stringent safety standards.
It’s important that it hits those safety marks because Miles will have to win over a public that will be doubly skeptical about the company. First, it’s a startup car company, which will immediately make it an odd duck. Second, to get its cost lowered the car will be manufactured in China. American perceptions of Chinese manufacturing are less than favorable, but Japan wasn’t exactly trusted twenty years ago, either.
Info from Business Insider.
Shandong Lu Jun EV Co gets EEC certificate
Shandong Lu Jun announced today that it has received its European EEC certificate of conformity, meaning it can start Euro sales of its popular small car.
Its vehicle, shown left, can hit a top speed of 60kph and can travel for an impressive 180km on a single charge.
Euro sales are expected to start soon.