Green transport in China

Project size: projects in 20 Chinese cities
Cost: 3.5 million Euros ($4.7 million)
Project goal: developing concepts and technology for electromobility

China has become one of the world's biggest economic superpowers. The country is booming, and personal wealth and prosperity are on the rise - especially among the middle class. But that has its drawbacks, too. More goods, services and people are on the move, and China's roads are becoming increasingly congested. Many cities and towns are plagued by air pollution problems. That all adds up to a troubling fact: China produces more CO2 emissions than any other country in the world. Most of those emissions comes from the transportation industry. And the demand for fuel - which has to be imported - is getting harder and harder to meet.

A film by Ariane Reimers

Now, the Chinese government is investing in what could be a solution to the country's emissions problem: electromobility. China has pledged $15 billion into the research and development of e-mobility through the year 2016. China could become the global leader in electric transportation.

But getting there won't be easy. The country still lacks the technology needed to expand e-mobility on a wide scale. Batteries are too expensive, cars are too heavy and the engineering isn't sufficient. Some public and private companies in China are trying to change that. They've taken on the challenge of electrifying China's roads, and fast. These joint ventures are the driving force behind research and development in e-mobility. Electric taxis and public transit are already on the roads in more than 20 test cities across China.

Electric bicycles and scooters have long been popular in China. Around 20 million eletric two-wheelers are sold across the country every year, and in some parts of China, traditional motorcycles are no longer allowed on the streets.

A Film by Ariane Reimers (ss)