CH Auto plans to begin production of its 'Event’ electric supercar late next year.
ejiinsight.com: China’s CH-Auto Technology Co. aims to create the nation’s first domestically developed electric sports car, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The company, steered by a former Beijing Jeep executive Lu Qun, hopes to design and build a battery-powered sports car that is cheaper than imported European gasoline-engine roadsters, it said.
If the plans succeed, the first car will go into production in late 2016.
CH-Auto had earlier designed gasoline-powered cars for Chinese manufacturers such as Zhejiang Geely Group, Jiangling Motors and a Dongfeng Motor Group joint venture.
Electric cars are in focus as the Chinese government has pledged substantial support for their development to address air pollution produced by conventional-engine vehicles.
Lu plans to initially target the high-end of the market with Event, the name given to the company’s first battery-powered sports car.
Once the brand is established, CH-Auto will follow with cheaper electric cars made in greater volumes, the report said.
This week, CH-Auto displayed three cars, including a high-tech two-seater that it said runs on a 48-kilowatt-hour battery and can go from zero to 100 kilometres an hour in 4.6 seconds.
It claims a range of 250 kilometres and can be recharged in six hours using a standard 220-volt power supply, the Journal noted.
The company didn’t reveal the price, but said it will be significantly cheaper than imported sports cars.
