Asian Governments in drive to spur electric and hybrid vehicle introduction
Tue 25 September 2012
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The Indian Government has approved a $4.1bn National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 to support the production of electric (EVs) and hybrid vehicles up to 2020. India aims to see six million hybrid and EVs sold in the country by 2020. Its action follows moves in China where there is a target to produce 500,000 EVs by 2015.
The Shanghai government will now pay a subsidy of 40,000 yuan (around $6000) for each purchase of an electric car and the Chinese Government says that people who buy fuel-saving and new energy cars in Shanghai can save around 100,000 yuan (US$15,760) in total. Other supportive policies include exemption for users from the license plate auction and lottery which is an important incentive in China.
Sales of all-electric and hybrid cars are still, however, low in China. They reached 5,579 units and 2,580 units, respectively, in 2011, dwarfed by the country's total sales of 18.55 million vehicles.
China has emerged as the world’s largest car market according to Pike Research and the country is positioning itself to become a significant exporter of EVs in the years to come.
But China is not the only country in Asia making the push for the adoption of low carbon cars. Last year, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation met to discuss the region’s electric vehicle future, with car makers, regulators and policy makers discussing strategies and policies to improve technology and infrastructure necessary for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
“Member economies agree that more electric vehicles on the road will save energy and reduce carbon emissions,” said Phyllis Yoshida of the APEC Energy Working Group (reported by Green Transportation - see link). “The agenda also covers innovations in infrastructure and harmonizing of standards for critical technology components.”
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