Reference News Network, September 30 report: The U.S. "Foreign Policy" quarterly website published an article titled "The Electric Vehicle Revolution in Iraqi Kurdistan" on September 23, authored by Winthrop Rogers. The full text is as follows:

On a July day, Erbil, the capital of the Iraqi Kurdish region, was shrouded in smog, and the city's ring road was congested during peak hours. Beige Nissan "Sunny" taxis intermingled with Ford SUVs and Kia sedans in opposite directions; old Toyota agricultural trucks idled side by side with expensive Land Rovers at traffic lights. Chinese electric vehicles from companies like BYD occupied a significant proportion of the traffic.

The Iraqi Kurdish region is gradually transitioning to electric vehicles. This area is rich in oil resources, and consumers are increasingly inclined to purchase plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicles due to environmental concerns, poor gasoline quality, and high costs of traditional cars. In addition, with the improvement of the region's power infrastructure, people are no longer as worried about electric vehicles being stranded on remote roads due to battery depletion.

Chinese automakers may supply most of the new electric vehicles. This outcome is not only due to China's growing soft power in the Kurdish region, but also because of China's rise as a major automobile manufacturer in the global market.

Earlier this year, 30-year-old real estate broker Arjan Ibrahim Jebbar grew tired of the high costs of driving a Dodge SUV between his home in Erbil and his parents' house in the third-largest city of Dohuk. The journey is approximately 100 miles (1 mile is approximately 1.6 kilometers), taking about two and a half hours. Jebbar said, "The cost of going back and forth is too high, and the car's engine and tires keep having problems." He estimated that his car cost more than $200 per month on fuel and maintenance.

Jebbar sold his Dodge and bought a BYD Qin L for $19,000. This Chinese-made plug-in hybrid model has both a battery and a fuel tank, and it has a combined range of about 1300 miles when fully charged. Jebbar said he rarely goes to gas stations now, charging his car every 15 days, which costs just a few dollars, far less than the previous $45 per week for fuel.

Several years ago, writing such an article would have seemed absurd. In 2021, a local radio station jokingly claimed on social media that even if Tesla, the American automaker, entered the Kurdish region, its vehicles would need to be connected to a portable gasoline generator for charging. But now, driving electric vehicles on the streets of major cities like Sulaymaniyah and Dohuk is no longer a ridiculous idea.

For decades, the electricity supply in the Kurdish region has been extremely unstable, with generation unable to meet user demand. This situation is slowly changing. Last year, the Kurdish regional government launched a plan aiming to achieve 24-hour electricity supply throughout the region by the end of 2026. Currently, the plan is only being implemented in parts of the main cities, while rural areas have not yet been covered. Solar energy is also becoming increasingly popular in homes and businesses.

Previously, the only Chinese cars seen on the streets of the Kurdish region were basic pickup trucks produced by Great Wall and Geely, which were popular among farmers. However, in recent years, new brand logos have started to appear. Now, cars from brands such as BYD, Chery, Geely, JieTu, and MG, which was originally British but acquired by China, are commonly seen on the streets of the region.

After surpassing Japan in 2023, China is now the world's largest automobile exporter. Affordable Chinese cars have firmly established themselves in emerging markets.

Differing from some countries in Europe and East Asia, the Kurdish region of Iraq does not worry about China's geopolitical stance, but Chinese brands still face competition from companies in North America, Europe, and other Asian countries.

The example of the Iraqi Kurdish region shows that electric vehicles have transformed from a joke into a viable transportation option in just a few years. The price competitiveness of electric vehicles makes them a real choice for consumers, and the improvement of power infrastructure further promotes the popularity of electric vehicles. Today, electric vehicle showrooms are continuously emerging around the world, from Brazil to Vietnam, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. (Translated by Lin Zhaohui)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7555734967486120494/

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