A customer looks at an e6 in an EV car show in Beijing in Dec. 2015. (Photo : Reuters)
China’s auto and rechargeable batteries maker BYD is aiming to double the sales of its electric vehicles (EVs) in China by banking on the favorable policies of the government, which seeks to see more people drive EVs to cut down on emissions and pollution, according to report by CNBC.
Chinese consumers who buy electric vehicles get their license plates right away, while those in bigger cities, a license plate for a new car would take weeks or months through lottery or auction.
According to the report, policies such as these have contributed to the increase in electric car sales in China to 188,000 last year, surpassing the U.S. which sold only 116,000 units.
Last year, the company sold about 62,000 electric vehicles in China and it plans to double this number this year.
"We can see that more and more people already accept the new technology," Michael Shu, general manager of BYD Auto Sales, said. After years of producing batteries, the company has expanded into electric vehicles production.
Conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett has reportedly bought a 10-percent stake in BYD.
Analysts, however, are thinking of the challenges that Chinese consumers face, such as the lack of charging stations.
"Chinese consumers generally live in large apartment buildings, not in standalone homes where they can more easily have a charging solution," James Chao, with the consulting firm IHS Automotive, said. "One of the conundrums for the EV buyer here is 'where do you charge it?'"
Shu said that there is a growing number of public charging stations in China, while some consumers can charge their electric cars at home.
"We don't think it will be a problem," Shu said. "We don't have too much concern about infrastructure for the charging."
Hong Yuan, who bought his e6 earlier this year, said he will take his EV into a charging station in the parking garage under his apartment building.
"I think it's pretty exciting because you don't have to worry about the gas price anymore and the electricity price is always stable," he said.
