By Jose Pontes, Clean Technica, June 17th, 2017
The Chinese market had more than 40,000 new EVs zooming the streets last month, a 49% increase in sales over the same month last year, with the EV market share now at 1.4%, close to last year’s record (1.45%). Expect improvement as the year progresses and sales expand, with the Chinese EV market potentially surpassing 2% market share.
This is a highly protected market, where 94% of sales belong to domestic brands. Of the 7% left for foreign brands, 5% belong to Tesla, with the remaining 1% divided by all other automakers.
In May, the Zhidou D2 EV was the best-selling model, but BAIC’s golden boy, the EC180, continues to lead the YTD ranking. That said, BYD, with over 8,000 units registered in May, is stepping up the pace and chasing leader Beijing Auto in the race for the best-selling manufacturer.
Top 5 Electric Models
#1 – Zhidou D2 EV: This bare-basic city vehicle probably doesn’t inspire anyone, but surely continues to be delivered in record quantities (4,471 units in May), probably thanks to big fleet deals. This vehicle is sold as a quadricycle (think Renault Twizy class) in some European countries, with the following specs: 12 kWh battery, 120 km range, 90 km max speed, and all for some €16,000.
#2 — BAIC EC180: After three consecutive “Best Seller” trophies, EC180 sales dropped 10% compared to the previous month, with “only” 3,895 units being delivered. Has the little city EV found its natural sales level around 4,000 units per month? If so, it would be a little disappointing, as this is a car that has decent design, specs (e.g., 20 kWh battery) and price (€19,000), which could make it the strongest candidate for the annual “Best Seller” trophy. And that would be a first for BAIC and the first time since 2013 that a BYD didn’t win the trophy.
#3 — BYD e5: The current BYD best seller is the low-key e5 sedan, which delivered another record performance in May, with 3,131 units sold last month. A favorite among taxi companies, along with its e6 older brother, the plain-Jane e5 actually has a lot going for it spec-wise: 305 kilometers of range from a 48 kWh battery and a healthy 218 hp, all for 230,000 Yuan ($33,400). A wolf in sheep’s clothing, isn’t it?
#4 — Geely Emgrand EV: While Geely is busy buying everything that moves (Proton, Lotus …) and is looking to become a sort of Chinese Volkswagen Group, with multiple brands under the same stable, that hasn’t stopped it from delivering 3,015 units of its EV model in May, a year best. This compact sedan (think Toyota Corolla) could land on the medals podium this year. Main specs: 253 km range, 95 hp, 250,000 Yuan ($36,500).
#5 — JAC iEV6S: Despite being a vehicle at the intersection of the two hottest trends in China — crossovers and EVs — success seemed to escape it due to battery production constraints, but with a record 2,572 deliveries last month, those days seem to be a thing of the past. Expect this Nissan Juke–sized crossover to be a frequent sight here in the coming months. Not only does it have an attractive design, inside and out, but also decent specs: 114 hp and 251 km range coming from a 33 kWh battery provided by Samsung.
Year-to-Date Ranking — BAIC vs BYD
Below the top two positions in the year-to-date ranking were a few changes, with the JAC iEV6S jumping to #7 and the Changan Benni EV also climbing in the ranking, up to #12, thanks to a record delivery of 2,269 units.
Other models also had record performances, like the Chery eQ1, allowing it to join the ranking and close the top 20 list. The Chery eQ1 had a record 1,660 registrations. The Horki 300E sedan also delivered a best ever, 836 units, also enabling it to enter the top 20 (at #18).
A note should also be given to the 2,068 deliveries of the BYD Song PHEV in its first month of full deliveries, a result that bodes well for the upcoming “Dynasty” clan (Song BEV, Yuan PHEV, Yuan BEV), sure to arrive in the next few months.
Looking at the manufacturer ranking, BAIC (18%, down 1%) is seeing its leadership under threat, now followed by a recovering BYD (17%, up 1%). With fewer than 2,000 units separating both brands, BYD could even surpass Beijing Auto in June.
In 3rd place we have Zhidou, with 10% share, closely followed by SAIC (9%).
Also by Steve Hanley: China: 12% Electric Cars By 2020 … Or Else
Originally published on Gas2.
Last week, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met privately with German chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss China’s proposal to require all manufacturers to sell more so-called new energy vehicles. After the meeting, Merkel thought she had an agreement that would allow German companies that manufacture cars in China a little breathing room before complying with the new rules.
But a notification posted online this week by the Legislative Affairs Office, which reports to the Chinese cabinet, says otherwise. It indicates that all manufacturers will be required to generate EV credits that equal 8% of sales in 2018, 10% by 2019, and 12% by 2020. The rule applies to both foreign and domestic car makers.
The credits are computed based on the level of electrification of the cars produced. Fully electric cars earn more credits than plug-in hybrid cars, for example. Plug-in cars that go further on battery power alone are rewarded with more credits than cars that have more limited electric range.
The latest draft by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is essentially the same as the proposal first promulgated last September. “That’s what it looks like: no compromise, no concession,” says Dominik Declercq, China representative for the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Michael Clauss, Germany’s ambassador to China said: “It seems that the political leadership has understood that this is a problem but there seems to be a disconnect between them and the working level at MIIT.”
China is beset by massive smog issues in many of its major cities. Beijing gets most of the attention, but the country has more than 100 cities with more than one million inhabitants. The United States has 10. China’s growing middle class is buying more and more automobiles, which exacerbates air pollution problems. Making more of those cars operate on electricity is a top priority of the Chinese government.
But Merkel and other global leaders worry the restrictions will give local manufacturers an important advantage in the marketplace. She wanted German companies to get some relief from the rules with a promise that they would catch up later. That’s not going to happen, apparently.
Source: US News & World Report
Further news:
Cleantech leaders from 11 countries are now set to converge on Berlin and Wroclaw for the next edition of the Cleantech Revolution Tour, including longtime EV and solar leaders from the UK, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary, the USA, Sweden, and Portugal. Two workshops during the conference will focus on creating a Cleantech Communication Handbook and one focused on formulating a solid cleantech investment portfolio (article coming). See conference site for more details on the schedule below.
Berlin — June 28
| SESSION | SPEAKER(S) | TIME | VENUE |
| Coffee & Hello | Benni Schulz | 9:30 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Communication is Key to Revolution | Zach Shahan | 10:00 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Robotaxis +/- Carsharing +/- Business as Usual | Jacek Fior | 10:10 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Residual Value & the Future of Automakers | Roger Atkins | 10:20 | Ahoy Berlin |
| EasyCharge.me — Charging Made … Easy | Artur Sychov | 10:30 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Panel & Audience Discussion: Future of Mobility — What Consumers Will Expect and Demand | Nazar Shymone-Davyda, Daniel Priem, Roger Atkins, Jacek Fior | 10:45 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Stimulating EV Awareness, Experience, & Adoption | Afeez Alade-Kolawole | 11:00 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Converting Paris Gare de l’est from a Train Station to a New Mobility Hub | Ross Douglas | 11:15 | Ahoy Berlin |
| The Hot Dutch Market — Good & Bad EV Policies | Koen Schroder | 11:30 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Panel & Audience Discussion: How Cities can Facilitate EV Growth — Policy Perspective | Koen Schroder, Ross Douglas, Roger Atkins, Peter Badik | 11:45 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Lunch | 12:15 | Ahoy Berlin | |
| A Mass-Market EV Charging Solution | Nazar Shymone-Davyda | 13:15 | Ahoy Berlin |
| What’s the EV Charging Mix in 2025? | Peter Badik | 13:30 | Ahoy Berlin |
| PlugSurfing | Jacob van Zonneveld | 13:40 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Panel & Audience Discussion: “Promises, Challenges, & Unique Features of Growing a Cleantech Startup” | Artur Sychov, Daniel Priem, Jakub Stęchły, Tomek Gać | 13:50 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Which Automakers are Really Leading in EVs? | Jose Pontes, Viktor Irle | 14:20 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Coffee & Special Activity (secret) | 14:30 | Ahoy Berlin | |
| EV Sales Today & in 2025 | Jose Pontes, Viktor Irle | 15:00 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Panel & Audience Discussion: EV Sales Today & in 2025 | Afeez Alade-Kolawole, Jose Pontes, Viktor Irle, Zach Shahan | 15:10 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Global Energy Solutions to Reach 100% Renewables | Hans-Josef Fell | 15:30 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Panel & Audience Discussion: 2025–2035 Energy Markets & Energy Mix | Hans-Josef Fell, Elizabeth Ferguson, Ala Kazlova, Tobias Engelmeier | 16:00 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Coffee | 16:30 | Ahoy Berlin | |
| Solarizing without a Roof/Rooftop Solar Panels | Jakub Stęchły | 16:40 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Design-Centred Approach to Renewable Energy Solutions | Ala Kazlova | 16:50 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Getting Cities Moving Using ADASE — Active Mobility, Data Analytics, & Autonomous Shared Electric Vehicles | Ross Douglas | 17:00 | Ahoy Berlin |
| 15 Levers Cities Can Pull to Accelerate (not Block) EV Adoption | Witold Chmarzyński | 17:15 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Driving from Poland to Wales in a Nissan LEAF | Tomek Gać | 17:30 | Ahoy Berlin |
| How Does “Today” Turn into “Tomorrow”? (Literally & Figuratively) | Jacek Fior, Zach Shahan | 17:40 | Ahoy Berlin |
| Tesla Shuttles | Jakub Stęchły, Benni Schulz, Tomek Gać, Jacek Fior, Zach Shahan | 18:00 | Tesla Shuttles |
Wroclaw — June 29
| SESSION | SPEAKER(S) | TIME | VENUE |
| Coffee & Hello | Jacek Fior | 9:00 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| When the Future Attacks | Zach Shahan | 9:30 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| EV Revolution is Coming to Poland Too — Don’t Be So Pessimistic | Jacek Fior | 9:40 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Is Solar Shining in Poland Yet? | Piotr Pająk | 9:50 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Who will the Winners & Losers of Energy Revolution be in 5 Years? 10 Years? 30 Years? | Marcin Popkiewicz | 10:00 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Panel & Audience Discussion: Cleantech Revolution in Poland? Winners & Losers? Really? Solar PV, EV, & Energy Storage Progress, Roadblocks, & Potential in Poland | Piotr Pająk, Marcin Popkiewicz, Jakub Stęchły, Jacek Fior | 10:10 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Coffee | 11:00 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum | |
| EU Policies for EVs: Electromobility Policy Recommendations in the Context of the Clean Energy Package | Roman Targosz | 11:15 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| EV Sales Today & in 2025 | Jose Pontes, Viktor Irle | 11:25 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Panel & Audience Discussion: EV Sales Today & in 2025 | Jakub Stęchły, Peter Badik, Jose Pontes, Viktor Irle | 11:40 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Lunch | 12:00 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum | |
| Changing Mobility in Cities — Modes As Well as EV vs ICE | Tomek Gać | 13:00 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| EV Charging Solutions that Work | Peter Badik | 13:10 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| How EV Manufacturers are Adapting to the Shifting Market | Jose Pontes, Viktor Irle | 13:20 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Panel & Audience Discussion: How EV Manufacturers are Adapting to the Shifting Market | Peter Badik, Jose Pontes, Viktor Irle, Zach Shahan | 13:30 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Coffee & Special Activity (secret) | 14:00 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum | |
| Workshop: Investing in the Future | Benni Schulz | 14:30 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Carsharing & Ridesharing Hype vs Reality | Jacek Fior | 15:00 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| TBA | Darek Szwed | 15:15 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Panel & Audience Discussion: What can Polish cities do to advance cleantech and green life? | Roman Targosz, Witold Chmarzyński, Jacek Fior | 15:30 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Coffee | 16:00 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum | |
| Legal Progress & Hurdles In E-Mobility in Poland | Witold Chmarzyński | 16:10 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Renting & Sharing EVs | Krzysztof Gawalek | 16:20 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
| Workshop: How To Handle Trolls — Your Cleantech Communication Handbook: 10 Cleantech Messages to Hammer Home, & How | Jacek Fior, Zach Shahan | 16:30 | Hotel Mercure Wroclaw Centrum |
Learn more about the conference or just head straight over to eventbrite and get a ticket (note that CleanTechnica Facebook fans can register using the $19/day rate).
Hans-Josef Fell, President, Energy Watch Group, & Member of the German Parliament from 1998–2013.
