Oregon Gears-Up For Chinese Imports
Last week, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski clinched a deal to bring Nissan’s pure-electric cars to his state. Then, he went on to Shenzen, China. “At BYD Auto Co., China’s fast-growing automotive star, a plug-in electric hybrid sedan is just weeks from meeting millions of Chinese consumers” writes the Oregonian. “The F3DM, which runs up to 80 miles on a single charge and packs a 7-gallon tank, will probably launch in the United States by 2010.” The Governor wants it to be built in Oregon. On Friday, he met with BYD President Wang Chuanfu. On a 10-day business trip through Asia, Kulongoski had laid out his vision to automakers in Japan and China: Electric charging stations every 60 miles along interstates. Tax incentives for Oregonians to buy electric cars. Tax bonuses for drivers to build car chargers in their garages. And, unspoken, but you can bet on it: generous incentives for those who bring their factories to Oregon. Then, Kulongoski has guanxi, connections, indispensable for a successful Chinese deal…
The Governor has a powerful ally: Patrick Reiten, president of Pacific Power, one of Oregon’s main electricity providers. His company is owned by Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company. It just so happened that this company bought a 10 percent stake in BYD for about $230m.
Another Oregonian ready for the Chinese: Bill Wyatt, executive director of the Port of Portland. His port is a major entry point for Japanese and South Korean cars. Wyatt had intensive talks with BYD, along with all other Chinese carmakers in preparation for the coming onslaught of Chinese cars. “Eventually, one of these Chinese car manufacturers is going to begin large-scale exports to the United States,” the Oregonian quotes Wyatt. “Whoever it is, we’ve gotten to know them at this point.” Glad to hear that someone is ready for the inevitable.
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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AG: the big problem with your idea is the lack of a ground to complete the (any) electrical circuit. The rails on the train are grounded. There are, of course, many others too, too may to list here, but that one is a good start.
@Herr Niedermeyer: 2 wires? Trolley bus type?