Policies on new energy vehicles may be delayed

Shanghai, September 27 (Gasgoo.com) China might not be able to issue policies in favor of new energy vehicles in a short time, Chinese publication Economic Observer reported.

The report said such policies will only benefit global auto giants as Toyota, GM and Honda who have mature products for the time being rather than domestic car manufacturers whose new energy technology is still not ripe.

Zhao Hang, the Chief Director of the state-owned China Automotive Technology Research Centre (CATARC), said recently the institute has already handed in an alternative energy car report to National Development and Research Center (NDRC), which will finally set policies  based on the report to encourage the new energy vehicles.

But the newspaper cited Ren Yong, Changan Automobile's Director in charge of hybrid Project, as saying the report contain little details as to how and which type of vehicles should be supported.

"It gives a general idea of how the western countries have made relevant policies and what experiences we can use for reference, but specific schemes are still needed to carry it out," Ren said.

Another unnamed official who has taken part in compiling the report said they have listed all kinds of alternative fuel cars, including those powered by hybrid, natural gas, ethanol and diesel, that should be encouraged, but actually they should be treated differently depending on national economic conditions.

Despite the delay, however, China will have to commercialize new-energy vehicles eventually for environmental concerns, experts say. The first half of this year saw the sales volume of China-made new energy cars already rise by 107.95 percent year on year to 366 units, data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers shows.