SHANGHAI, China — SAIC Motor unveiled a half-dozen "green" vehicles that will be on display at a major industry fair here, the Shanghai World Expo at the 2009 China International Industry Fair. They include a pure-electric four-seater and an 11-seat fuel-cell-powered touring car that resembles an oversize golf cart.
The fuel-cell vehicles can achieve a top speed of 25 mph and run up to 50 miles on one charge.
Other models on display at the Shanghai New International Expo Center yesterday included a fuel-cell bus and the Buick LaCrosse hybrid.
In order to help meet the goal of zero emissions at Expo 2010, SAIC said it would provide nearly 1,000 new-energy vehicles to transport visitors on site next year, including hybrids, pure electric vehicles, fuel-cell models and vehicles powered by super capacitors.
Through cooperation with international carmakers and its own efforts on new-energy vehicles, SAIC announced that it has formed a complete industry chain for greener vehicles and is moving forward with its plan to realize mass production by next year.
Early this year, SAIC invested the equivalent of $293 million to set up a new company for developing greener vehicles.
A group of 200 engineers is working on core spare parts for both electric and hybrid vehicles.
SAIC plans to begin marketing its Roewe 750 mild-hybrid vehicle next year. It can reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent compared with existing gasoline-powered engines.
By 2012, the Roewe 550 plug-in strong hybrid, which uses 50 percent less gasoline than the standard model, will reach the market. SAIC's self-branded electric car, equipped with a more advanced electric transmission, will also be available on the market by that time.
Inside Line says: SAIC moves aggressively forward in pursuit of energy-efficient products. — Vivian Jin, Correspondent
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