China Devotes Efforts to Developing Green Wheels

Dozens of carmakers in China are making significant efforts to develop vehicles powered by alternative energy in response to the government's financial support package for the auto industry.

Under the plan unveiled last month, the government will offer financial support to promote the use of energy-saving autos and those fueled by new energy sources.

During the next three years, the government will set aside 10 billion yuan, or 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, in a special fund to support automakers that upgrade their technologies and develop new engines that use alternative energy.

Encouraged by the package, more than 40 auto companies are developing green vehicles, most of which are hybrids.

Xu Pingxing, technical director at Dongfeng Electric Vehicle Company, says hybrid vehicles could power themselves by switching between electric power and gasoline to reduce their fuel consumption.

"When the traffic lights turn red, the engine of the hybrid car will be shut down, so there will be no petrol consumption or harmful gas emissions. And when the driver steps on the accelerator, the car will start immediately. While operating in cities, hybrid vehicles usually consume 10 to 15 percent less fuel than ordinary ones."

The Ministry of Science and Technology's plan says 10 percent of the vehicles produced by 2012 will be energy-saving autos or ones that run on new energies. These cars will save 780 million liters of petrol annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.3 million tons.