China a Better Place
Five southern Chinese provinces partner with Better Place in pioneering roll-out of nationwide charging stationsGlobal electric car (EV) network provider Better Place has just signed a partnership agreement with China Southern Grid (CSG) that aims to establish an EV charging infrastructure in the country’s five southern provinces.
The pioneering step is a foot in a not-unsubstantial door that has the potential to introduce more than two million EVs into the Chinese market.
Centrepiece of the Better Place/CSG partnership was the opening on December 12 of the Switchable Electric Car Experience Centre in Guangzhou – a 1900 square metre facility featuring what is described as a ”semi translucent green structure” that educates the public on “new energy” vehicles via battery switch demonstrations, EV displays, film, and actual EV experiences.
The centre is located close to the Guangzhou Auto Mall, which is the largest of its kind in southern China.
The fully automated battery switch facility is the first in the five provinces of southern China - Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou and Hainan. CSG has signed EV infrastructure agreements with the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanning and Haikou.
Better Place says the growing influence of EVs in China is consistent with the country’s naming of EVs as one of the seven emerging industries of strategic importance in its “12.5” five-year plan. The statistics, measured by Australian standards, show how important: With a population of 230 million people in the five southern provinces, an EV takeup of just one per cent would mean a market of 2.3 million vehicles.
According to Better Place Australia CEO Evan Thornley (pictured): “When China wants something done, China gets it done. Their shift from petrol to electric is under way and Better Place is honoured to play a key role in that transition. This is an important signal to the global market and it takes us another step closer to achieving our ultimate goal to drive the world electric.”
Better Place owns and operates a network of battery-switch facilities and charge spots that aim to minimise the time required for an EV to power up. It claims the system makes the operation of EVs more affordable, convenient and sustainable than today’s petrol-based cars. It says renewable energy sources are used “where possible.”
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