China is pushing ahead on building a national charging network for electric vehicles. Large stations strategically positioned in the country are supposed to facilitate the wide-spread use of EVs in one of the world's largest markets.

The Chinese car industry is maturing and follows other big manufacturers in their investment on electric mobility. The state supports this move by having set an official goal of 500,000 Chinese plug-in hybrids and electric cars produced by the end of 2011. To facilitate this goal, China launches a nationwide programme to install large electric vehicle charging stations.

Big companies to join forces for the implementation of EV infrastructure projects

Sinopec Beijing Oil Products (a division of China Petroleum and Chemicla Corp., another major Chinese oil company) and Beijing Capital Sci-Tech Group have formed a joint venture to build and install electric vehicle chargers across the nation. A charger network is first to be implemented in the capital and then expanded to further strategic locations.

Two large charging stations have already been completed in December 2009 in Shenzen. The city has been chosen as the nation's "pilot city of new energy vehicles" and was also the first to see BYD's plug-in hybrid on its streets. China Southern Power Grid Corp. built the two stations and plans on installing in total 12,750 charging points in the city.

China National Offshore Oil Co. and the telecommunications company China Potevio have equally announced a joint venture to establish networked charging stations in several provincial capitals in the second half of 2010.

China's very own plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicle

One of the first prototypes of large electric charging stations has been built by BYD Auto, one of the pioneers among the Chinese car manufacturers. The company showcased its F3DM plug-in hybrid sedan at the Detroit Show this January. The car using a small 1.0-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor for a combined output of 168hp (125kw) can drive up to 100km or 62 miles on electricity and 580km or 360 miles on a single battery charge and a full tank of gasoline. It can be charged to 50% power via quick charge in 10 minutes as well as 100% power via household charge in seven hours. The F3DM equipped with a solar panel sunroof that channels power to the battery pack, is already on sale in China for around $22,000 and is planned to be available in the U.S. market from 2011 on.  

In Detroit, BYD also revealed its first all-electric car, the five-seat “e6” people-mover. Powered by a lithium-ferrous battery pack, the plug-in e6 is claimed to have an impressive 330km driving range, a 140km/h top speed and 0-100km/h acceleration of 14 seconds.