Electric cars from China will hit the streets for COP15, Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy
Release Date: 2009-04-29
Chinese auto maker BYD is given permission by the Danish authorities to use its electric cars on the Copenhagen's streets during the UN Climate Change Conference this December
Chinese automobile and battery manufacturer BYD will introduce its all-electric E6 and hybrid F3 cars on the streets of Copenhagen during the UN Climate Change Conference COP15 this December, reports financial daily newspaper Børsen.
Time-consuming European approval procedures for automobiles had made it look unlikely that BYD would gain permission in time, but the Danish authorities have stepped in and given the Chinese manufacturer allowance to use both the E6 and F3 for a limited period as shuttle cars between hotels and COP15 meeting venues.
BYD has set its sights on Denmark as a test-bed for its European ambitions because "the Danes are extremely interested in green solutions, and because tax policy is favourable towards green energy", says Leevon Tian who heads BYD's electric car launch programme in Europe.
Denmark not only has an energy policy that tax-exempts electric cars until at least 2012, but also leads Europe in the use of wind power to generate electricity, facts of considerable moment to BYD which wants to test its green technology concept of charging stations that can store surplus electricity generated by wind turbines during the night, so that drivers can recharge their electric vehicles during the day.
Making all this a reality will naturally require substantial investment, but BYD has clearly signalled that it means business. Børsen reports that the company is already in contact with several Danish utilities to explore avenues of collaboration to develop the system.
| Type: | NORMAL |
| Company: | Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy |
| Country: | Denmark |
| Url: | http://www.denmark.dk/en/servicemenu/news/environment-energy-climate-news/electriccarsfromchinawillhitthestreetsforcop15.htm |