China to commercialize zero-emission cars by '14

Shanghai, March 6 (Gasgoo.com) China will try to commercialize zero-emission vehicles within four to six years, or by 2014, a government official told reporters at Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Thursday, according to Beijing Times.

Currently, to develop low-emission vehicles driven by new-energy technologies is a key part of the government's stimulus plan for the auto industry, said Wan Gang, Chinese minister of science and technology.

Wan said that in order to cope with the challenges for sustainable economic growth, major car-making countries in the world have made great efforts in the past years to drive the development of new-energy vehicles.

Asked when the new-energy vehicle will be available to individual buyers in China, Wan responded that they will be able to afford it once the production expands and the development cost drops. In the first stage it will mainly be used in the urban public transportation system.