The recently concluded China Tianjin Investment and Trade Fair and the 8th PECC International Trade and Investment Expo (April 19) was a good place to show Tianjin's strengths in the new energy vehicle field, which has witnessed a boom and has seen an extension of the industrial chain.

The exhibition had new patented items and products from 16 local companies, including electric and hybrid cars, electric buses and special-purpose vehicles from the likes of Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co, Tianjin BYD and Hawtai Motor (Tianjin), and 10 new-energy vehicle parts producers with their electronic control systems, batteries, charging pile, lithium ion battery anode and cathode materials and battery diaphragms.

Tianjin now has 11 new-energy vehicle producers, with integrated technology for their engines, gearboxes and other parts and electric drive assembly systems. It has more than 10 lithium ion battery producers and support enterprises for an integrated industrial chain and companies with more than 3,000 patents , including 1,500 for inventions and sales amounting to more than 20 billion yuan ($3.08 billion).

The city has also promoted the use of almost 14,000 new energy vehicles over the past few years, including 2,100 new energy buses and its new-energy vehicle used for express mail services accounts for 59 percent of these vehicles nationwide.