Story at a glance
- The Times notes that China is building electric vehicle factories as fast as the rest of the world altogether.
- China has also reportedly deployed more than 800,000 public charging stations.
- Meanwhile in the U.S., President Biden is aiming for a low-emissions future based on a massive investment in electric vehicles.
China is racing to lead the world in electric vehicle (EV) production as major car manufacturers around the globe are shifting away from traditional combustion engines.
The New York Times reports Chinese automakers are on pace to produce more than 8 million electric cars annually by 2028. That’s a significant jump considering car makers in China produced 1 million cars last year.
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That’s compared to the 5.7 million fully electric cars Europe is expected to produce annually by 2028 and the 1.4 million electric vehicles North American automakers are on track to build each year, according to estimates from global data firm LMC Automotive.
The Times notes that China is building EV factories as fast as the rest of the world altogether and has rolled out more than 800,000 public charging stations, nearly twice as many as the rest of the world combined.
Chinese EV automakers face challenges, however, including the lack of name recognition amid competition with the world’s largest car brands.
“We have the will, and we have the patience,” He Xiaopeng, chairman and chief executive of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng, told The New York Times.
“I think we will find it very challenging, but we also have to move forward.”
Meanwhile in the U.S., President Biden is aiming for a low-emissions future based on a massive investment in electric vehicles. Biden’s infrastructure proposal would spend up to $174 billion to boost the production and sale of zero-emission buses and cars and increase the number of EV charging stations.
“We have a lot of catching up to do but we’re going to be in a position where we ought to own the future,” Biden said during a virtual tour of an electric bus and battery manufacturing plant last month.
“We ought to be the single most significant suppliers of electric buses and vehicles in the world before it’s over. Right now, we’re running way behind China,” he said.
Automakers including General Motors, Volkswagen and Ford motor have made big EV promises. General Motors earlier this year outlined plans to phase out gasoline- and diesel-powered passenger cars and sports utility vehicles by 2035.
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