Reference News Network June 24 report: According to the BBC website on June 22, a driver who provides private car rental services, Lu Yunfeng (音), said at a charging station in the suburbs of Guangzhou, a southern Chinese city: "I drive an electric vehicle because it's cheaper."

Sun Jingguo (音), who was standing next to him, also shared this view. He leaned against his white electric vehicle and added: "Moreover, electric vehicles protect the environment."

This is exactly the kind of conversation that climate activists dream of. In many countries, electric vehicles are still seen as a luxury. But in China - where about half of the cars sold last year were new energy vehicles - it has become part of daily life.

The report said that at the beginning of this century, the Chinese leadership formulated a plan aimed at leading this future technology. Today, China, once known as the "kingdom of bicycles," has become the world leader in the electric vehicle sector.

For the more than 18 million residents of Guangzhou, the noise during peak hours has gradually turned into a hum.

Automotive industry analyst Michael Dunn said: "China leads other countries by 10 years in electric vehicles, and is 10 times better than any other country."

The report said that BYD, a Chinese company, has surpassed its American competitor Tesla and now leads the global electric vehicle market. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are seeking to sell more cars abroad.

BYD's sales benefit from a vast domestic market with a population of 1.4 billion, and the company is striving to expand its overseas markets. In addition, there are many start-ups in China that produce affordable electric vehicles.

So, how did China establish this leading position? Can it be overtaken?

The report said that at the beginning of this century, Chinese brands still struggled to compete with European, American, and Japanese automakers in terms of quality and reputation. These foreign companies had an advantage in producing gasoline or diesel vehicles.

But at the same time, China indeed had sufficient resources, skilled labor, and a supplier ecosystem in the automotive industry.

China included the development of new energy vehicles in its economic blueprint early on, but it wasn't until the second decade of this century that it began to promote the industry through subsidies.

Differing from Western countries, China has the ability to mobilize significant economic power over many years to achieve its goals.

This long-term planning and government support have also given China a dominant position in the key supply chain for battery production.

It helped establish the world's largest public charging network, where drivers can reach the nearest charging station in just a few minutes in big cities with concentrated charging stations.

Dunn said: "Now, if you want to manufacture electric vehicle batteries, all paths go through China."

The managers of China's electric vehicle industry emphasized that all companies, whether domestic or foreign, can access the same resources.

They pointed out that it is through intense competition and an innovative culture that China currently has a thriving electric vehicle start-up industry.

Gao Hongdi, an executive from the electric vehicle manufacturer XPeng, told an interview: "What China is doing is similar to what you see in Europe and the United States - providing policy support, taking measures to encourage consumers, and building related infrastructure."

He said: "But I think China has been doing this, and in a way that truly nurtures the most competitive landscape. No one is favored."

For Sun Jingguo in Guangzhou, the message here is simple.

He smiled and said: "I think the world should thank China for bringing this technology to the world. Anyway, I am grateful." (Translated by Wang Haifang)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7519378910287594047/

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