China Wants Five Million “New Energy” Vehicles on the Streets by 2020 to Ease Chronic Pollution

China wants five million "new energy" vehicles on the streets by 2020
to ease chronic pollution and reduce reliance on oil imports, but high
prices, lack of infrastructure and consumer reluctance are creating
major roadblocks.

The number of electric and hybrid vehicles currently in the country
is tiny at about 100,000, mostly in government fleets, according to an
industry estimate.

A salesman at the main Shanghai showroom of Chinese car maker BYD said the dealer sold only one electric car and two hybrid cars -- which combine a conventional internal combustion engine and an electric motor -- last year.

BYD, which is backed by US investment titan Warren Buffett, launched a
fully electric vehicle for private buyers in October priced at 370,000
yuan ($60,000), though subsidies cut the cost by at least 16 percent.

"People hesitate to choose cars with a high price," said BYD sales
manager Zhang Jiankun. "Although the government can provide subsidies
for alternative-energy cars, the lack of charging stations is a main
concern."

China had an estimated 243 charging stations at the end of 2011, but
Beijing plans to invest 100 billion yuan over the next 10 years to build
up the new-energy vehicle sector as a whole, focusing on electric
models.

Foreign auto makers are also promoting the new technology in China.
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