Despite many governments and industry players anticipating rapidly increasing popularity of electric vehicles(EVs),a recent report from Pike Research,a major market intelligence firm on new technology markets,shows annual sales of plug-in electric vehicles(PEVs)in China will reach only 45,000 units by 2015,and rise to an estimated 152,000 vehicles by 2017,or less than 1%of the total light duty vehicle market in China.
China,however,has been considering EV development and adoption to be a strategic priority with major economic,environmental,and security impacts for the country.The government of China aims to make China the world leader in PEV sales,including targeting manufacturing 500,000 PEVs per year by 2015.
"As of early 2012,only a few domestically produced EV models were available to China's general public,"said Pike Research`s research director John Gartner."Indeed,evidence is emerging to suggest that Chinese EV manufacturers have yet to develop proven technology that can propel the market.Even though it is unlikely to reach its targets,however,China's EV ambitions will provide a huge boost to electric car development worldwide in the long run."
Since 2003,Pike Research said,Chinese automakers have released or announced the production of 40 battery electric vehicles(BEVs)and 31 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles(PHEVs)that will be on the market by 2015.Chinese vehicle manufacturers,such as BYD Co.,Ltd.,Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.(Group)(SAIC),and Beiqi Foton Motor Co.,Ltd.(Foton),all delivered hybrids or PEVs to the market in 2011.
Among foreign automakers,Japanese and American manufacturers–including General Motors(GM),Honda,Nissan,and Toyota–were early entrants to the PEV market,while European suppliers have yet to announce PEV launch plans for China.
