Chinese cars are going green

Chinese automakers are turning out more and more cars each year as its economy booms. These cars are gettinging more and more eco-friendly as Chinese government’s environmental awareness grows. All the top five auto groups in China are on their green way.


DongFeng Motor Corporation (DFM)

DongFeng Electric Vehicle Co (DFEV), a subsidiary of DFM Group, was founded in 2001. The company's major products are electric passenger coaches and hybrid buses.

Up to this May, 10.83 million passengers have ridden DMEV's electric vehicle and the company plans to sell one hundred hybrid buses and 1000 units of electric buses this year.

"Our hybrid buses have started mass production, and the hybrid sedans are also under development," said Xin Jixinm, the general manager of DFEV.

The company has already released its hybrid concept car late last year, which is based on the Nissan Bluebird sedan and has already passed all the relevant tests and come into small-volume production.

Dongfeng hybrid is based on Nissan Bluebird

FAW

FAW Group Corp, one of China's largest automakers is carrying its R&D program to produce the Jiefang-branded hybrid urban buses. The company has made big break-through during the past four years with seven pilot buses being rolled out.

Another program of FAW's efforts is to launch the hybrid version of its own-brand Hongqi sedan. Both programs are still unable to go into mass production.

SAIC

SAIC has unveiled its Roewe hybrid sedan and a fourth-generation fuel cell sedan during the Shanghai Auto Expo this March.

SAIC plans to put the hybrid sedans into small-volume production before the 2008 Olympic Games and the first model will be based on its Roewe sedan, which uses the Rover platform. By  the time when the World Expo will be held in Shanghai in 2010, SAIC will put its hybrid sedans and buses into mass production and its fuel cell vehicles will have a trial run at the Expo site.

SAIC employs the hydrogen-fuel-cell technology to realize zero-emission.


Roewe 750 Hybrid


Chery

The CV11 to hit the market in 2008 is a micro-hybrid, Chang'an announced. The company plans to start from micro-hybrids and then progressively launch its mild-hybrids and full-hybrids. 

Chery focuses on innovation of multi-technologies, i.e., hybrids, full-electric and flexible-fuel vehicles. But it hasn't set a timetable as for mass production.

Chery unveiled its series of green cars---Chery A5BSG, V5 and B11 at the Shanghai Auto Expo. The A5BSG is a parallel mild hybrid car, while the V5 is powered by bio-diesel and the B11 is equipped with electricity power supply system.


Chang'an

Chang'an has released its hybrid MPV "CV11"in October, 2005, which is collaborated by Chang'an European R&D center. Chang'an has confirmed that this model will go into mass production before the 2008 Olympic Games.