VOTD: EVs Selling Like Crazy In China. (Wait Until You See Them.)

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • OldandSlow OldandSlow on Apr 19, 2012

    Another bottom-up Chinese innovation that lacks official government approval would be electric bicycles and scooters. There are probably millions of them on in use.

  • Mdensch Mdensch on Apr 19, 2012

    These look like Neighborhood Electric Vehicles, an idea that never took off in this country. We had a dealer set up shop in a nearby town several years ago and he successfully petitioned local governments all over the state to adopt ordinances that would permit operation on city streets. Their top speed was governed at 25mph, though a simple software update could kick that up to about 35, making them a little more competitive with other vehicles on the streets. Range was about 20 miles or so, adequate (barely) for a grocery-getter or for a short work commute. They were tiny, light, uncomfortable and expensive for what you got, which wasn't much. I drove one, a ZENN, a fairly attractive little car but a total penalty box to drive. ZENN no longer makes cars and the dealer long since has closed his doors.

    • Pete Zaitcev Pete Zaitcev on Apr 19, 2012

      ZENN may be gone, but GEMs still exist, through the miracle of re-capitalization. And of course Taylor-Dunn is not going anywhere.

  • L'avventura L'avventura on Apr 19, 2012

    This sounds similar in concept to what GM and Segway had in mind for China in Project P.U.M.A, which evolved into the Chevy EN-V for the Shanghai Expo: www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/07/did-gm-greenlight-the-en-v/ Which are slow-moving electric vehicles for urban usage. Granted, these EVs being sold in China seem to be more for rural usage than urban, but the EN-V seems to fit the bill. The Renault seem to have a similar thought process to bring the Twizy EV to the UK: www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/03/you-wont-need-a-license-to-drive-this-renaut/ The bigger question is if GM can make these cars cheap enough. The EVs described in the video cost $5k and use lead-acid batteries. GM's will most definitely use a more modern Li-ion battery that would surely add costs. And may be out of price range of the rural Chinese farmer which those EVs are being sold to, since a few hundred dollars seem to be the decisive factor why they choose the EV over the gasoline model. Either way, interesting video.

  • Cmoibenlepro Cmoibenlepro on Apr 19, 2012

    more: 200,000 produced 500 sold 199,500 in storage.

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