E-drive vehicle becoming focus of China’s auto industry
HEV or BEV? That’s the question. Although many Chinese specialists believe hybrid vehicles are more technological feasible, the government is still giving the greatest impetus to the development of battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
New energy vehicles, are known as ‘Green Vehicles’ in the Western world, this is a heated topic in China, in China ‘Green Vehicles‘ include hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles and alternative fuel vehicle, etc.
Fuel cell vehicles will not be popularized in a few decades due to the surprisingly high cost, while the ‘puerile’ alternative fuel vehicles are always undervalued in China. Finally, only HEV and BEV (including Plug-in HEV) can be chosen. Chinese government claimed HEV’s and BEV’s are all equally very important, but the subsidy policy on private cars published in this June told us the truth. BEV’s can obtain at most 60,000 RMB (€6,840), while HEV’s can get nothing from the hybrid system. Sadly, HEV’s with 1.6L or less displacement can only obtain a 3,000 RMB (€342) as an ordinary energy-saving car. It is obvious that Chinese government doesn’t like HEV’s
However, Series hybrid vehicles, a rarer kind of HEV, may enjoy a better treatment. Recently, a new expression ‘E-drive vehicle’ has broken through the traditional classification of new energy vehicles, which means vehicle’s wheels can only be driven by electric motor directly. E-drive vehicle consists of series hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles, etc. Series hybrid vehicles are also called electric-electric hybrid vehicles in China. This misleading expression may cover up the reality that series hybrid also depends on petrol or diesel.
Having this new classification, China’s new energy road became clear: E-drive vehicles are the only focus in the future.
Why will China develop E-drive vehicles? Only 2 reasons are rational. First, in the traditional field, such as inner combustion engine, gearbox, as well as HEV’s mechanical-electric coupling, China is so too far behind the Western world in terms of technology, but in the electric-drive area, the gap is not so huge. In a word, E-drive vehicles are a better opportunity for China’s automotive industry. Second, China’s oil reserves are limited, but coal is plentiful and more importantly it’s cheap. BEV and plug-in HEV can reduce our dependence on imported oil that comes through a dangerous stretch of the Ocean and is undergoing constant price fluctuations. Coal coupled with other new energy sources such as wind, nuclear and solar are the way forward for China
Other reasons such as low operation cost and low carbon emission are all nonsense. Considering the depreciation of Li-ion battery, BEV’s operation cost is much higher than a traditional car. With a view to electricity generation and battery manufacturing, BEV’s CO2 emission is no less than a traditional car. In China, the proportion of coal-fired power in the total electricity generation reaches up to 74%.
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Wouldn’t that be BEV, HBEV, and PHBEV ?…
or could we just say EV, HEV and PHEV?
The government should subsidize HEVs, for as long as it takes to build the infrastructure needed to make EVs viable.
In China, EV always includes BEV, HEV, PHEV and FCEV. The word HBEV is not common.
The government should subsidize HEVs, I agree with you.
Hi Gong,
I enjoyed your article. I guess I was trying to make light of the various acronyms that are being thrown around to refer to vehicles equipped with electric drive motors. Rather I should have gone on to explain my point that all these vehicles have a “traction battery”, and so to use the letter B is unnecessary. Whichever acronyms prevail, it’s going to take a while before the industry writers and the technical guys begin to speak the same language.
Thank you. I think BEV is a common word in auto industry, means all-electric vehicle. Although all EVs have traction battery, but BEV’s is the biggest, haha. Maybe that’s why we call it BEV
Yes, I am seeing BEV used a lot in articles written in and about China’s industry.
By the way, I love that photo of the Duracell convertible. I wonder if Duracell has joined the army of manufacturers making traction batteries.
Haha. That’s only a pic photoshoped by myself. don’t take it seriously.
“are all equally very important” this part is a bit awkward, all, equally, very together sounds too much. I suggest just choosing one.
China is so too far behind the Western world “in terms of technology” could be deleted. Sort of repeatation.
the gap is not “so” huge. “So” here is not appropriate. I can’t find “so” is “how”, it is colloquial.
I think you would better explain a bit about the “HEV” or “BEV”, you can’t expect the audience bearing a clear background knowledge.
“In terms of technology” and “so” are both appropriate for what Gong was writing and colloquialism has it’s place seeing this is a blog (and a very good one at that).
The Chinese industry is still lagging behind the major automakers in developing better more efficient engines that meet existing and future US and Euro standards. Progress has been made but they are certainly still lagging in that area and few others as well.
In addition, “In a word” means in ONE word. Like, it charges less, it is, in a word, cheap.
You should say “In short” or “Put it in a simple way”.
Generally， this is a well-organised, and convincing article. It is pretty good.
“In a word” is acceptable as well even if not totally correct. If you tell someone you want to have a word with them it will generally be to discuss something (often with a negative tone).