Business

Driving into the future

By Ma Zhenhuan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-16 15:50

SHANGHAI - Automakers should take advantage of developments in electrification and connectivity to produce vehicles that are more fuel efficient, more sustainable, safer and more enjoyable to drive, says an industry executive who believes the sector has entered an "unexpected stage of invention and creation".

A General Motors Co Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle is charged during the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Daniel Acker / Bloomberg news

"I talked with many pioneers of new-energy vehicles and, not surprisingly, most of the tech roadmaps for the automobile industry and urban mobility in China, Europe and the US are the same," said Alan Taub, vice-president of GM global research and development. He was speaking at the recent "Drive to 2030", a forum on sustainable urban mobility held in Shanghai.

"Ultimately if we want to make low-cost renewable energy, low-emissions vehicles, there are only a few technologies available: One is improving the performance of today's engine, the second is driving electrification through battery technology, with a third being the development of hydrogen-powered fuel cells," he said.

Alan admitted that he had found a lot of synergies between the works supported by Chinese, US and European governments in terms of electric vehicles and urban mobility, adding that this will offer GM ample space for development because the company has technical centers around the world and has been designing engines and manufacturing vehicles in various centers.

"We are glad that we can participate in all these programs," he said.

He said in terms of a solution to solve future urban transportation needs, there have emerged several cities around the world in which cars are rented by the hour, instead of by the day, but so far it still remains a small business.

"From the vehicle manufacturing side, the basics of vehicles we build will be the same for personal and shared mobility. The questions we are asking internally are to what extent should GM participate in the ownership experience beyond design, building, selling and servicing," he said.

For example, he said, GM, as one of the world's largest automobile makers, had launched its Onstar telematics service to manage a connected vehicle service for car owners, and it will continue to explore business opportunities to manage this connected vehicle world.

General Motors in April said it planned to sell its Volt plug-in electric cars in China next year.

China, the world's largest auto market, is aiming to increase annual production capacity of alternative-energy powered vehicles to half a million units by 2011 to cut reliance on oil and improve air quality. China in May announced a trial program to subsidize alternative energy cars in five cities, providing subsidies of up to 60,000 yuan to individual purchasers of electric cars.

"I think it's worth pointing out that Volt is an electric vehicle that has extended capability, because of the ability to use the engine to charge the battery when it is not near a charging station. The Volt gives more flexibility to introduce the new vehicle without waiting for the whole infrastructure capability to fall into place," said Alan.

With technology updates providing a broader base of introduction prior to full implementation of the infrastructure, he said he believed long term technological advancement in the marketplace would decide whether the world needs battery electrics or extended capabilities, but in the initial introduction of the vehicle, clearly the Volt technology gave more flexibility.

GM is hosting six forums at the SAIC-GM Pavilion in Shanghai during the six-month Expo period, hoping to find a way to bring in sustainable mobility to cities and defining the challenges facing future urban transportation, as well as developing a roadmap for sustainable mobility.

It will publish the "Roadmap to 2030 Blue Paper" at the conclusion of the Expo, the first document of its kind in China that discusses future urban mobility solutions.

As a global automotive company, GM says it is not only committed to bringing its products and technology to China, but is also committed to giving back to the local community by, for example, promoting the low-carbon concept among the public. It sets up a monthly corporate social responsibility (CSR) council with executives and council members providing input, approving direction and giving support concerning CSR issues.

Before China's 2010 Spring Festival, GM launched a "Low Carbon Spring Festival" program with Chinese Wiki-Hudong.com to encourage people to lower their carbon footprints during public holidays.

China Daily