Companies set up charging network to boost electric cars

A growing number of Chinese companies are moving to take advantage of the government's push to promote electric vehilces by tapping into the growing need for charging stations in this country's large cities.

More than 4-thousand electric buses and 800 electric taxis are currently on the roads in the southern city of Shenzhen.

To keep them rolling, charging stations need to be set up to ensure a solid electricity supply.

China Potevio New Energy has already established over 900 charging piles to meet the demand in Shenzhen.

Company vice-General Manager Jiang Jianping says the company also boasts the world's largest battery charging and replacement network.

"There are several mechanisms under this network that can ensure the safety. First of all we have an online supervision system, which can oversee the condition of a battery while it is charged or used. If anything abnormal happens while being charged, there will be a real-time alarm, and we can locate the charger and the car according to a special code, then we can send our technicians to the site."

The company's online center also monitors the conditon of every charging pile and battery of every electric car in the city.

There were around 26-thousand new energy cars sold in China last year.

Industry observers expect that number could rise to some 150-thousand this year.

As a result, cities like Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai, are now working closely with local companies to try to accelerate infrastructure construction.

Authorities in Beijing have announced plans to build 10-thousand charging stations in the city over the next 3-years.

Potevio's Jiang Jianping says the charging stations need to be professionally installed.

"The charging service should be carried out by professional operators, because given the living style in China, it is not possible for most of us to install the charging piles, so there should be some professionals providing fast and public service in this sector, and that is what we are doing now."

As for the drivers of electric vehicles, what they care about is more practical.

"I want them to make some improvements. First of all, the time for charging should be shortened. And secondly, the cars need to be able to travel longer distances once they are fully charged."

The Chinese government has announced a new series of subsidies for new energy cars.

A 10-percent purchase tax for new energy vehicles is being eliminated from September 1 to the end of 2017.

Local governments are also being encouraged to build charging stations and other needed infrastructure to provide support for new-energy vehicles.