Ren Yong: Opportunities in Chinese EV

Editor's note: 2009 International Electric Automotive Innovation and Development Forum was held from Oct.22 to Oct.23 2009 in Chongqing. Lecturer : Technical Director of Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd, Vice-General Manager of Chongqing Changan New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd. Mr. Ren Yong:

Ren Yong,Technical Director of Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd, Vice-General Manager of Chongqing Changan New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd.

Ren Yong: Why should we develop new energy? It’s mainly for the crisis of energy, including environmental crisis. From this aspect, in China where petroleum is mostly imported, only a very little part is self-produced. In 2008 vehicle emissions of carbon dioxide are 540 million tons. These two crises raised a question: what kind of common green power will be used to replace petroleum? What environmentally friendly power sources will be used to achieve energy efficiency? Changan have to explore these questions.

Focus of developed countries and regions is an important reason in promoting the electric vehicle industry. You may understand it better than I, that the United States introduced fuel regulations and policies to promote the development of new energy vehicle. Japan also has a corresponding number of strategies to promote the development of new energy vehicle; also Europe has introduced a number of regulations on the average carbon dioxide emissions of the vehicles, etc., to promote the development of new energy vehicle. Development of new energy has become a strategy for countries around the world. China has different technology routes, including small cars, hybrid, etc. These technologies are advancing low energy consumption, low carbon emissions, low cost, and short practice cycle.

On the development of electric vehicle, we think hybrid vehicle is the most realistic way. Hybrid vehicles will be mainly supported, hybrid vehicles and integrated hybrid will become standard configuration in the future. This point raised by me will be supported by the following several reasons:

Before the breakthrough in battery technology, alternative energy sources that rely little on the battery should be developed. We want to develop new energy; firstly dependence of the battery should be draw down. Supporting the development of hybrid equals to supporting development of key components of the battery. The corresponding documents should also support this; it is the foundation for the development of pure electric vehicle. Because no matter which technology is used, there can always be some advances, such as whole-vehicle technology, trolleybus technology, and so on.

Development of hybrid vehicle will also support the traditional internal-combustion engine and transmission to highly efficient. Hybrid is combined by a traditional internal combustion engine and a motor, also a number of new energy technologies based on the development of high-performance internal combustion engine will be used. What development status of new energy vehicle is here in China? From a technical point of view, the major auto companies all has been involved in the new energy vehicle, representatively as Changan, Chery, Dongfeng and some other companies. Plug-in: R & D focus in the new energy vehicles of BYD, FAW; pure electric: represented by Tianjin Qingyuan, Northern Institute of Technology, and it is more mature in overseas markets than the domestic market; fuel cells: represented by Tongji and Tsinghua.

Because of the policy environment, just as the media has mentioned, at present, China support new energy vehicles: firstly Department of Science and Technology has established special project of the electric vehicle in the 863 Program; then the major projects of Eleventh Five-Year Plan is for the energy-saving and new energy vehicles, promoting new energy vehicles from the national level. Earlier this year, Development and Reform Commission promulgated the "new energy vehicles produce access rules" to regulate development of the new energy vehicle, also regulate that the new energy automobile manufacturing enterprises, with what capacity and conditions, can they enter the new energy vehicles industry. The three core technologies are also included.

Energy-saving and new energy vehicles are imperative. Four ministries of this project have regulated the development of energy-saving and new energy vehicle. Demonstration of energy-saving and new energy vehicle boosts new energy vehicles to the market. "Auto industry restructuring and revitalization plan" was promulgated, directing development strategy of the new energy vehicle. The development of hybrid vehicle should be in large scale, while promoting the industrialization of the pure electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and their key parts.

Status of new energy auto market in China: hybrid is already underway in terms of market-oriented reform; plug-in or pure electric has not yet started; fuel cells is currently commissioning in limited scope. In short, currently Chinese self-developed new energy vehicles are mainly demonstrations. (Translator: Qinghua/Tongwen-Xiewen)

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