One look at the international headlines these days reveals story after story about new energy vehicles. Whether it be the latest accident involving a driverless electric vehicle, or a new shortest charge time for their battery, one would be forgiven for thinking the industry is on the up and up.
That’s what we thought, too. However, one look around the Fifth China (Nanjing) International Energy Conservation and New Energy Auto Exhibition, finishing tomorrow 14 April at Nanjing International Confernece and Expo Centre in Hexi, is enough to leave one a little dejected as to future of electric vehicles.
Taking up a full two halls of the expo centre, when the show could comfortably fit into just one (no, it doesn’t make it feel bigger), it is a sign of things to come when the first (and biggest) stand one comes across is battery manufacturer Chilwee, who have seen fit to take up most of their exhibition space showing off a Tesla and a petrol driven Maserati, whom they have absolutely nothing to do with.
Then there is Zema, the first of many Smart rip offs. Except that this correspondent couldn’t figure out how to open the door, and needed a salesperson’s assistance. Who’s not so smart now?
Yet, there are bright spots too, in serval notable areas.
With only one foreign auto brand present (Kia), it is certainly a pleasant surprise to see just how many Chinese producers there are of electric vehicles. SAIC, JAC, Chang’an, Zotye and Geely are joined by smaller companies, new to the market by as little as 3 or 4 years, such as Nanjing’s very own Xiaoming New Energy Auto (ZD) and Nantong Anda Electric Vehicle that produces tiny runarounds which sell for as little as ¥7,000; for many, a month’s salary.
Elsewhere, the Iveco Daily is the commercial van that has become a workhorse of the world, since going into production in 1978. In Nanjing, it goes by the name Naveco, a 50/50 joint venture between IVECO and SAIC that dates back as far as 1986, making it one of the first foreign-Chinese auto joint ventures. Ever since, it has been churning out the popular, and reliable, Naveco Daily. On display at this year’s New Energy Auto Expo is the new electric version, that, at first impression, appears just as good as its internally combusted, older sibling.
Stealing the show, however, is Hummer. Yes, that mammoth icon of America that alone consumed what seemed like the bulk of Saudi Arabia’s oil output, is now reduced to a collection of toy-like, but practical, almost adorable, electric mini SUVs.
There is nothing new about trade wars between the US and China, and the story goes that the sale of Hummer to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery failed, in 2009, on account the Chinese ministry of commerce objected to the deal. The Chinese government strenuously denied the allegations. With no other buyer, GM announced a year later that it was shutting down the Hummer brand. It lives on through GM’s licensing of the brand name. Find Hummer now on everything, from laptops and bikes, to shoes and aftershave. And here in China, on these snazzy new creations with their unlikely home in Taizhou, manufactured by Jiangsu Shunwei Auto.
So while there are many aspects about which to be upbeat on new energy vehicles, and with China doing well in other environmental protection areas, this year’s expo also goes to show that the industry still has a very long road to travel, both in terms of consumer acceptance and the kind of genuine innovation for which China is busy touting itself, but that is for now, little more than copycat.
