China Invests to Be Leader in Electric Vehicles

[IDemo]

By KEITH BRADSHER
Published: April 1, 2009

TIANJIN, China — Chinese leaders have adopted a plan aimed at turning the country into one of the leading producers of hybrid and all-electric vehicles within three years, and making it the world leader in electric cars and buses after that.

The goal, which radiates from the very top of the Chinese government, suggests that Detroit’s Big Three, even as they struggle to stay alive, will face even stiffer foreign competition on the next field of automotive technology than they do today.

“China is well positioned to lead in this,” said David Tulauskas, director of China government policy at General Motors.

To some extent, China is making a virtue of a liability: it is behind the United States, Japan and other countries, when it comes to making gas-powered vehicles. But by skipping the current technology, China hopes to get a jump on the next.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/business/global/02electric.html?ref=global

[Auggie]

1. And they'll do it too

[madrchsod]

2. north american bus and auto assemblers

already have the tires on the road when it comes to electric and hybrid vehicles. gm has the largest fleet of hydrogen vehicles being tested across the usa and the volt is ready for production.
we are already ahead of the chinese in development of these vehicles

[tinrobot]

3. ...and the batteries in those vehicles come from Asia.

Including China.

How far ahead are we again?