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September 28, 2005
China develops hybrid automobiles
Already a major competitor in the telecommunications/data infrastructure industries, China is now targeting the hybrid automobile market in taking the lead with low cost products.
At the Exhibition of Science and Technology Achievements during the 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05), which concluded yesterday in Beijing, China's Dongfeng Electric Vehicle Co Ltd introduced prototypes of a hybrid car (model EQ7200) and a bus (model EQ6100).
The EQ7200 can reach a top speed of more than 160 kilometres per hour while consuming 30 per cent less petrol than a normal car of the same size.
Six EQ6100 buses have been on trial operation on a passenger route in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei Province, for two years.
The company's CEO has stated recently that the company is going to prepare buses for full commercial use by the end of this year. The first clients are likely to be city public transport authorities and government departments.
The Chinese government is also stepping up support for other types of alternative energy vehicles. Recently China has decided to earmark 880 million yuan (US$106 million) to support an electric vehicle project.
Posted by admin at September 28, 2005 02:23 PM