China Automobile Industry, Technology (NEV, Driverless, etc): News & Images

[JSCh]

Next-generation solid-state batteries in production in China
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-20 12:51:04|Editor: Chengcheng


NANJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's first solid-state battery production line has become operational in the city of Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province.

The solid-state battery technology is a next-generation, high-capacity energy storage solution eyed by global high-tech firms to improve on today's lithium-ion batteries, replacing the liquid or gel-form electrolyte with a solid and conductive material.

Chinese start-up Qing Tao (Kunshan) Energy Development Co. Ltd, led by Nan Cewen, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has invested 1 billion yuan (144 million U.S. dollars) on the solid-state battery project.

The production line is capable of producing 0.1 GWh solid-state batteries per year, which have an energy density of over 400 Wh/kg.

Nan announced the line's operation on Monday, saying the batteries would first be utilized on special equipment and high-end digital products.

He said the company has engaged with a number of large automobile manufacturers to produce batteries for electric vehicles by 2020, when the company's annual production capacity is expected to reach 0.7 GWh.

Nan founded the company with several Ph.D graduates from Tsinghua University in 2014 with an insight on the market prospect for solid-state battery technology.

　 He said world renowned companies like Volkswagen, Toyota and Dyson were marching towards using solid-state batteries for automotive applications.

　"Getting rid of liquid electrolytes can ensure the battery is not flammable or combustible and can even be produced in flexible packs," Nan said.

 

[qwerrty]

asia.nikkei.com
Tesla hints at seeking new battery suppliers in blow to Panasonic
DAISHI CHIBA, Nikkei staff writer
3-4 minutes

Electric cars in China

Elon Musk says Shanghai factory will 'most likely' draw on multiple sources

November 20, 2018 03:27 JST

Panasonic is now the only supplier for automotive batteries used in Teslas, but the electric vehicle maker is looking to branch out. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)

OSAKA -- Tesla is looking to obtain automotive batteries from multiple sources for its first overseas car-assembly plant, even as current sole supplier Panasonic doubles down on the partnership and plans to move its battery operations to the U.S.

Earlier this month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote on Twitter that cell production for its so-called Gigafactory in Shanghai "will be sourced locally, most likely from several companies," including Panasonic. While both sides had known this was a possibility, it is nevertheless a blow to Panasonic's battery business, which will now face greater competition from rivals.

Musk's tweet came just after Panasonic's second-quarter earnings announcement late last month, when President and CEO Kazuhiro Tsuga struck an upbeat tone on the partnership. He said Panasonic would "reach 35 gigawatt-hours within fiscal 2018" at U.S. battery facilities jointly operated with Tesla, achieving full output capacity, and would "consider further investments in North America" while continuing to cooperate with the electric-car maker.

Osaka-based Panasonic has been planning to transfer the production of Tesla batteries from an in-house company for automotive and industrial systems to a new U.S.-based unit starting next April. It aims to deepen its relationship with the automaker as Tesla's Model 3 sedan finally gets on track for mass production, after prior delays.

"There's no way a single company could cover all the immense need for auto batteries," Yoshio Ito, the head of Panasonic's automotive and industrial systems company, said in response to Musk's tweet. "We'll discuss the matter with Tesla, but we're envisioning a range of options."

Panasonic makes an array of batteries -- such as for hybrid vehicles -- for clients beyond just Tesla. But its dealings with the U.S. company are "just about the only place it can secure solid profitability in car batteries," according to a source affiliated with the Japanese manufacturer. Panasonic tends to enjoy a healthier margin on the high-capacity batteries it supplies for Teslas than on products designed for cheaper hybrids, for instance.

Panasonic has also hit the gas on its partnership with compatriot Toyota Motor. The two companies have found success working together on hybrid batteries, and said last December that they were looking into cooperating further in the field, primarily on high-capacity products for electric vehicles.

Still, Tesla remains at the heart of Panasonic's growth strategy. The U.S. automaker's decisions could significantly impact Panasonic's fate in China, the world's biggest electric-vehicle market.


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more companies joining baidu's apollo

Volkswagen taps Baidu's Apollo platform to develop self-driving cars in China
Volkswagen on Friday said it would join China's Apollo autonomous driving consortium, which was founded by Baidu, as it seeks to develop self-driving cars for the world's largest car market.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...o-develop-self-driving-cars-in-china-10892580

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Ford and Baidu team up to test self-driving vehicles in China

• Ford and Baidu will collaborate on the development and testing of driverless vehicles for two years.
• Ford's autonomous vehicles have already been fitted with Baidu's autonomous driving system Apollo.
• On-road testing is slated to start by the end of this year. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/31/ford-and-baidu-team-up-to-test-self-driving-vehicles-in-china.html

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Volvo and Baidu join forces to mass produce self-driving electric cars in China

• Volvo Cars will offer its expertise in advanced technologies in the auto industry, while Baidu provides its autonomous driving platform Apollo.
• The long-term aim is for the two firms to sell the self-driving vehicles to Chinese customers.
• China is home to a rapidly growing autonomous vehicles sector, with multiple tech firms in the country vying to own the space. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/01/volvo-baidu-to-mass-produce-self-driving-electric-cars-in-china.html

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tu-auto.com
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance Funds Chinese AV Maker – TU Automotive

The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s venture capital arm, Alliance Ventures, has become a Chinese Level 4 AV start-up’s lead strategic investor.

The investment was made as part of WeRide.ai’s Series A funding round and is Alliance Ventures’ first Chinese investment. The company claims it makes it the country’s first Level 4 AV maker to forge “a strategic partnership” with a major automaker.

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electronics360.globalspec.com
Chinese Self-Driving Car Startup Raises $1 Billion in Funding
Peter Brown
3-4 minutes

Momenta, a Chinese-based automotive startup, is the latest in a series of car manufacturers to raise significant amounts of funding in an effort to establish a new line of self-driving vehicles.

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[TaiShang]

Still, Tesla remains at the heart of Panasonic's growth strategy. The U.S. automaker's decisions could significantly impact Panasonic's fate in China, the world's biggest electric-vehicle market.

Panasonic can share some of the cake with China's battery companies such as the world leader CATL.

Win win.

 

[TaiShang]

Hongqi retail sales skyrocket 520% year on year for first 11 months

Molly From Gasgoo| December 07 , 2018

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- FAW Group-owned premium car brand Hongqi saw its retail sales climb 5.33% over a month ago to 4,311 units in November, achieving month-on-month (MoM) growth for 9 consecutive months. For the first 11 months, the automaker delivered 24,800 vehicles in total with a tremendous year-on-year surge of 520%.

The retail sales of the Hongqi H7 and the H5 reached 1,405 units and 2,905 units last month, both completing their respective sales target ahead of schedule.

Hongqi's wholesales volume in November amounted to 4,504 units, among which the sales of the H7 and the H5 were 1,506 units and 2,998 units. The automaker received 4,389 units of orders last month including 1,391 H7s and 2,998 H5s.

As one of two sales drivers, the Hongqi H7 C-segment sedan was formally launched in 2013. The existing H7 up for sale is a facelift that hit the market in September last year. The Hongqi H5 B-segment sedan is the brand's first strategic model tailor-made for Chinese younger consumers. It formally went on sales at the Auto China 2018 in Beijing.

It is reported that Hongqi is ambitious to fulfill an annual sales goal of 100,000 units in 2019. To achieve the target, the automaker will launch a SUV offensive next year by releasing such models as the Hongqi E-HS3, HS7 and HS5 in succession.

http://autonews.gasgoo.com/china_news/70015453.html

BYD PV sales in November climb 9% from year-ago period

Monika From Gasgoo| December 07 , 2018

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China-based automaker BYD Company Limited (BYD) sold 50,982 vehicles in November, which made its year-to-date (YTD) sales grow to 451,050 units, The PV sales in November reached 49,645 units, climbing 9% over a year earlier, according to the company's sales report released on December 6.

Last month, BYD sold 20,906 fuel-burning vehicles, among which 3,781 units were cars, 7,093 units were SUVs and 10,032 units were MPVs. For the first eleven months, the company saw its fossil fuel-powered vehicle sales aggregate 249,889 units.

The NEV sales in November were 30,076 units. A total of 28,739 new energy PVs were delivered last month with a significant year-on-year (YoY) leap of 123%, of which the BEV sales and PHEV sales were 15,347 units and 13,392 units respectively. From January to November, BYD has already sold 201,161 NEVs in total.With regard to the Nov. sales of each model, the sales of the all-new BYD Tang SUV amounted to 10,152 units, surpassing 10,000 units for four straight months. The sales of the BYD Song MAX MPV reached 10,032 units, surpassing 10,000 units for the 13th month in a row. The BYD Song MAX DM made its debut at the Auto Guangzhou 2018, which attracted a lot of attention on spot.

Besides, the all-new BYD Song compact SUV and the Yuan EV360 had monthly sales of 7,656 units and 6,188 units respectively. The sales of the BYD Qin family totaled 7,456 units in November.

 

[TaiShang]

All-new BYD Tang EV rolls off production line, expected to go on sale in December

Molly From Gasgoo| December 10 , 2018

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The all-new BYD Tang EV, which was unveiled in June this year, has already rolled off the production line, according to local media. The new model's presale started at the Auto Guangzhou 2018 with price ranging from RMB260,000 to RMB360,000 and is expected to formally hit the market in December.

The BYD Tang EV features the all-new matrix-type intake grille, which resembles the armor dressed on Terracotta Warriors. The L-shaped chrome trim on both sides of the front face is much bigger than that of the fuel-burning version.

The new model has the same design as the DM version in terms of side profile, adopting the “hidden” C-pillar and D-pillar. It is noteworthy that the EV will offer the Continental tires in the size of 265/40 R22 and six-piston calipers from Brembo. At the rear end, the integrated LED source is still used for taillights.

The cleaner interior design looks similar to the Tang DM. Retaining the 2-3-2 seat arrangement, the Tang EV is still fitted with a rotatable screen on the center console and a full liquid crystal instrument panel. Moreover, the ball-shaped electronic gear lever is different from the DM version.

The new EV model is said to provide three variants based on battery range—the Tang EV500, the EV550 and the EV600. The version rolling off the production line is the Tang EV600. Powering the vehicle will be a permanent magnet synchronous generator that churns out a maximum power of 180kW, which provides the vehicle with a range up to 600km.

http://autonews.gasgoo.com/china_news/70015457.html

 

[JSCh]

Western China's first unmanned bus in trial operations
By Wei Lynn Tang, Li Yang
2018-12-12 08:04 GMT+8

A 14-seater new energy, unmanned bus struts its way just outside the headquarters of Sichuan Bus Manufacturing Co., Ltd – the manufacturer of the vehicle – in suburban Chengdu.

According to Zhang Jiaqi, chief engineer at Emei Bus Research Institute (part of the bus manufacturer), this driverless vehicle is the first of this scale in Sichuan Province and in China's entire western region.

"It's currently still in [the] testing stage. We first aim for the bus to operate within fixed routes, closed parks and scenic spots. In about two to three years, hopefully it can be fully applied to the city's public transport system," Zhang told CGTN.

A 5.9-meter-long unmanned bus is in trial operations in Chengdu. /CGTN Photo​

The unmanned bus is 5.9 meters long, 2.1 meters wide and 2.7 meters high. It has a test speed of 20 kilometers per hour.

Zou Yingquan, associate professor of the Intelligent Research Team at Southwest Jiaotong University, said the most challenging part is the system's ability to cope with complex road conditions and emergencies.

"For example, breaking into pedestrians or animals coming from the side. The other challenge is when there is water on the road or obstacles such as well covers," added Zou, who is in charge of the intelligent control system of the unmanned bus.

But Zou insists that this is more of an experiential journey for the public, which will encourage experts to discover and produce new driverless technologies in the process.

The unmanned bus' intelligent control system is developed by the Intelligent Control Research Team at Southwest Jiaotong University. /CGTN Photo

When it comes to the driverless bus technology used, Zou cited China's Beidou system for accurate positioning – to the centimeter level. Meanwhile, he said the vehicle's brake and steering control system is independently developed.

The unmanned bus is designed by the School of Architecture & Design of Southwest Jiaotong University.

The school's R&D professor, Huang Tao, said the idea initially came about to develop transportation with sustainable development in the city.

"Public transport, new energy, automated intelligence. We hope these advantages will be reflected in our unmanned bus," Huang said.

The unmanned bus is designed by the School of Architecture & Design at Southwest Jiaotong University. /CGTN Photo​

 

[JSCh]

Proton-Geely partnership takes to road with launch of SUV in Malaysia
Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-13 00:40:08|Editor: Yurou

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (R) and his wife Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali pose for photos during the official launching ceremony of Proton's SUV X70 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec. 12, 2018. Malaysian national car manufacturer Proton and China's Geely have unveiled their first joint commercial product on Wednesday with the launch of the X70 sports utility vehicle (SUV). (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian national car manufacturer Proton and China's Geely have unveiled their first joint commercial product on Wednesday with the launch of the X70 sports utility vehicle (SUV).

The X70 is the most anticipated SUV in Malaysian automotive history, with over 10,000 bookings received before its official launch.

The vehicle is the first joint product since Geely acquired 49.9 percent of Proton from Malaysia's leading conglomerate DRB-HICOM that owned 100 percent of Proton last year.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who was the guest of honor at the launch, said the vehicle represented a technological leap for the national car maker.

"The technology is fantastic. All the things that I never thought could be done before is now commonplace. When we introduced the first Proton and compare that with what we have now it seems like it was a bullock cart by comparison to the latest cars," he said.

The prime minister was impressed by the car, including its voice command features.

"I had my first taste of this car when it was first introduced to me. This car talks back to you. You can ask in simple English and I hope later on in simple Malay, what you want and the car will do exactly what you want," he said.

Mahathir added that the launch of the X70 would help rejuvenate Proton and help the company recover from the hard times it had faced recently.

"We have seen Proton make a recovery and this recovery will be enhanced by the latest model of Proton, the X70. This is the first car of its design and specification from Proton and I am quite sure it is going to be well received by the public in Malaysia."

Based on Geely's popular SUV model Boyue, designers from Proton have infused some unique Malaysian elements into the car.

Mahathir said he hopes Proton will come out with a 100 percent Malaysian car in the future with the support from Geely.

According to Proton, both companies had collaborated on multiple levels, including the cross deployment of staff in China and Malaysia, and testing in the Malaysian climate, and the collaboration between local and international vendors.

The company said significant investments were made to its network for the arrival of the Proton X70, including a network expansion plan to start Proton outlets and offering incentives for existing dealers to upgrade their facilities.

 

[JSCh]

First 100 Chinese electric buses presented in Chile
New China TV
Published on Dec 13, 2018

President Pinera presents first 100 Chinese electric buses for the transportation system.

 

[cirr]

First 100 Chinese electric buses presented in Chile
New China TV
Published on Dec 13, 2018

President Pinera presents first 100 Chinese electric buses for the transportation system.

Chile officially unveils first 100 Chinese-made electric buses

2018-12-14 13:26:31 Xinhua Editor : Jing Yuxin

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Thursday unveiled the first 100 Chinese-made electric buses to join the capital Santiago's mass transit system.

"We are going to achieve something that a short time ago seemed impossible: Santiago is very soon going to be -- after Chinese cities -- the city with the most electric buses in the world," Pinera said.

The move "clearly defines the route, the road map and the future we want for our public transportation system," he added.

During the official launch, Pinera was among the first to ride aboard the fully electric buses manufactured by BYD, a leading Chinese maker of electric vehicles.

BYD's electric buses took a month and a half to reach Chile's port of San Antonio from Shanghai, China. The 30-seat vehicle can accommodate up to 80 commuters, and are equipped with modern conveniences, such as USB ports.

More importantly, the buses are "practically nonpolluting and don't emit CO2 (carbon dioxide) or other types of greenhouse gases, because they don't have internal combustion engines," said Pinera.

Chinese-made electric buses have been running on the streets of Santiago for a few months as part of a pilot program, and are graded at 6.3 on a scale of 7, according to Chile's Metropolitan Public Transport Board.

The electric buses are part of the country's "Third Millennium Transport" project, which aims to make a qualitative leap in mass transit serving the capital and other cities to improve quality of life and sustainability.

With the new buses running into service on Dec. 15, a second batch of 100 buses are on their way and expected to join the fleet in January.

The units will make an estimated 240,000 weekly trips and benefit 12 districts, Pinera said.

The unveiling ceremony, which took place at the city's O'Higgins Park, was attended by Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Gloria Hutt, Economy, Promotion and Tourism Minister Jose Ramon Valente, and Energy Minister Susana Jimenez.

Also present at the ceremony was China's ambassador to Chile Xu Bu and representatives of BYD, Chilean transport company Metbus, and Italian electricity company ENEL.

BYD's country manager in Chile, Tamara Berrios, told Xinhua the company is a global leader in making and selling electric vehicles.

Contributing to the metropolitan transit fleet "is a big milestone," she said, adding "we hope next year we'll have an additional 200 buses joining the system."

"China is a great supplier and a great market, and in both aspects is of great importance for any counterpart, especially for a small market like ours," Hutt told Xinhua.

Chile has developed a good relationship with China, she noted.

"What we now want is to maintain it, because these 200 buses need an entire support system that the same manufacturers provides," she said.

The buses will be incorporated into Transantiago, the transportation system that operates in the Chilean capital.

 

[TaiShang]

BAIC BluePark to set up new intelligent plant in Beijing to create high-end models

Claire From Gasgoo| December 13 , 2018

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- BAIC BluePark New Energy Technology Co.,Ltd (BAIC Bluepark) announced on December 13 that its board of directors agreed an application to build a new vehicle plant featuring intelligent manufacturing technologies at Beijing Economic Technological Development Area.

According to the announcement, the Beijing-based new plant has a planned yearly capacity of 120,000 vehicles in total, of which the first phase, involving an investment of RMB2.5 billion, will be allocated with annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles.

The company regards the NEV as a future strategic direction for global automotive industries. For the first 11 months, China all-electric PV outputs and sales reached 806,600 units and 790,900 units, surging 50.3% and 55.66% respectively from the previous year, according to the data released by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

During such fast-growing period, BAIC BluePark said it plans to roll out premium products to improve its brand value and competitiveness. Thus it is ready to construct the new plant armed with high-end technologies and manufacturing abilities to brace its premium product ambition.

BAIC BJEV, operated as BAIC Bluepark's subsidiary, currently has four production bases in China. The base located in Beijing's Caiyu Town is used for trial production. The other three bases in Laixi (a county-level city of Qingdao sub-provincial city, Shandong Province), Huanghua (a county-level city of Hebei Province) and Changshu of Jiangsu Province are designed to produce budget new energy PVs, affordable BEVs and medium-high level new energy PVs.

The data announced by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) show that BAIC BJEV's wholesale volume amounted to 18,315 units in November. By the end of November, it has sold around 128,400 vehicles this year with a year-on-year leap of 54%.

http://autonews.gasgoo.com/new_energy/70015474.html

 

[TaiShang]

NIO ES6 hits market at NIO Day 2018, priced from RMB358,000 without subsidies

Monika From Gasgoo| December 16 , 2018

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The NIO ES6, the second model developed by Chinese EV startup NIO, officially hit the market at the NIO Day 2018 on December 15, which is priced from RMB358,000 to RMB548,000 without subsidies. Meanwhile, the price will be reduced by RMB100,000 if users decide to rent the battery pack, paying RMB1,660 per month for the rental.

The ES6 displays a close resemblance of the NIO ES8, while the more compact size and many nuances make it look somewhat sharper. There are 7 colors of car body offered to consumers, namely, sky blue, cloud white, stratosphere blue, mars red, misty green, star gray and deep black. Nebula violet, the NIO Color 2019, will be available for delivery at the same time. The new model is planned to be handed over from June next year.

The ES6 measures 4,850mm long and 1,965mm wide with a wheelbase length of 2,900mm, which offers a dynamic and comfortable mobile living space. The vehicle uses microfiber suede car roof for the first time. Featuring the three-spoke sports steering wheel and one-piece sports seat, it creates a driving space with enduring stamina, said the startup.

The ES6 is the world's first SUV that uses an electric all-wheel driving system consisting of a PM motor and an IM Motor. The 160kW PM motor is responsible for medium and low speed daily driving while 240kW induction motors offers great acceleration performance and high speed, producing up to 15,000 rpm per minute. With an optional new 84kWh LC battery pack, the new SUV can show a NEDC-rated range up to 510km. It only takes 4.7 seconds for it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h.

The ES6 is still equipped with the NOMI in-car AI system that brings music, services, software, and hardware together.

http://autonews.gasgoo.com/china_news/70015480.html

 

[JSCh]

Geely's Flying Car Prepares to Land in US Next Year
LIAO SHUMIN
DATE : DEC 17 2018/SOURCE : YICAI

Geely's Flying Car Prepares to Land in US Next Year​

(Yicai Global) Dec. 17 -- Chinese carmaker Geely Holding Group has revealed plans to launch its first flying car in the US next year through unit Terrafugia and has started accepting pre-orders.

Terrafugia has already successfully tested several prototype models, Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao reported Geely Senior Manager for Media Relations Gao Po as saying, adding that the Massachusetts-based unit aims to debut the world's first vertical take-off and landing flying car in 2023.

The subsidiary aims to achieve annual sales of 3 million vehicles by 2020, the report said, adding that a time frame for a China launch is still in the works.

The two-seater model named Transition uses a folding wing to switch between ground driving and air flight modes in less than one minute. A four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine provides a 640-kilometer range and a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour. Transition requires a take-off distance of 425 meters.

The development of Transition has been a joint effort between personnel in the US and China, Gao added.

Founded in 2006 by five Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates, Terrafugia was acquired by Geely in November last year.

 

[TaiShang]

China's Hongqi sets sales record

Xinhua, December 16, 2018

Hongqi, a subsidiary of China's leading automaker FAW Group has sold a record 30,000 cars so far this year, the company announced Saturday.

The company sold 20,825 H5 models and 9,175 H7 models, surpassing the sales target the company set for this year, it said.

Hongqi, meaning "red flag," is China's iconic sedan brand. The brand was established in 1958 and has been used as the vehicle for parades at national celebrations. It debuted as a parade limousine at Tian'anmen Square during China's 10th National Day celebration in 1959.

However, its brand positioning, lack of new models and shops have led to lackluster sales in the private auto market.

In recent years, the company has increasingly explored the private car market by expanding its product portfolio and sales networks.

The company introduced several new models this year including the L5 sedan, a high-end SUV HS7, and its first electric SUV E-HS3 this year.

Hongqi has opened 90 dealerships across the country so far. The figure is expected to reach 170 by the end of 2020.

The company has set sales targets of 100,000 cars in 2020, then 300,000 in 2025 and 500,000 in 2035, according to Xu Liuping, FAW Group chairman.

Hongqi will launch 17 more new models including more electric vehicles and SUVs, Xu said.

Established in 1953 in the northeastern Chinese city of Changchun, FAW was the first automaker in China. In addition to Hongqi, it has other brands, including Jiefang and Besturn. It also has joint ventures with carmakers such as Volkswagen and Toyota.

http://www.china.org.cn/business/2018-12/16/content_74281565.htm

 

[Pakhtoon yum]

The thing that trolls regarding the Chinese automotive industries don't understand is that not very vehicle has to be a "success". Its all about the experienced gained from every venture, from the screw to the electrical system.

 

[JSCh]

17 Dec 2018 | 13:00 GMT
China and Japan Push for a Global Charging Standard for EVs - IEEE Spectrum
CHAdeMO and the China Electricity Council invite other countries to join them in creating an open charging standard for electric vehicles

By John Boyd

Two industry groups, Japan’s CHAdeMO and the China Electricity Council, which are the world’s strongest proponents of electric vehicles (EVs), announced in late August they would codevelop an ultrafast charging protocol for EVs. Now, the partners, under the supervision of both the Japanese and Chinese governments, are inviting other countries to join the endeavor. Their goal is to develop a global standard for all types of EVs by 2020.

CHAdeMO, a consortium of automotive, power generation, and IT companies (including Kia, Mitsubishi Motors, and Nissan), has the largest global installation of DC chargers for electric vehicles: 22,647 units operating in 71 countries as of September, according to the group’s own figures. This includes more than 2,900 in North America, and over 7,900 in Europe.

CHAdeMO’s Chinese counterpart, China Electricity Council (CEC), counts 270,000 chargers using its GB/T standard installed in China and India. Together, the two groups account for more than 90 percent of the installed EV fast charger market—that is, DC charging stations up to 120 kilowatts that connect directly to the battery.

Both organizations presently use their own charging standards, which share some common features such as the controller area network (or CAN bus), which is a standard for communications between electronic control units for features such as airbags, audio system, and the engine control system.

The new EV charger standard goes by the working name of ChaoJi. Makoto Yoshida, Secretary General of the CHAdeMO Association and general manager at Nissan, in a recent briefing for the foreign press in Tokyo, noted that “nothing is finalized” in the specifications drawn for it to date, and there is room for input from countries that join the endeavor.

Maximum power for the new standard is tentatively set at 900 kW (1,500 x 600 amperes) to meet the needs of high-powered batteries of the future. This will be capable of charging large vehicles such as earth-moving equipment, buses, trucks, and helicopters at faster speeds. For example, whereas a 50-kW charger takes about 30 minutes to charge a 25 kilowatt-hour battery today, a 900-kW charger of the future could charge a 450-kWh battery in 30 minutes.

Before that happens, however, CHAdeMO intends to modify its specification for upcoming chargers to handle 350 kW and 500 kW-plus in the new ChaoJi standard. It will also require manufacturers to include a new connector design and liquid cooling cables.

Society of Automotive Engineers could pose a long-term threat. Named Combined Charging System (CCS), it is backed by BMW, Ford, General Motors, VW, and others. It comes in two flavors that combine AC and DC charging in a single connector and are dubbed Combo 1 and Combo 2. Combo 1 uses a single-phase connector for AC and is used in North America. Combo 2 is found elsewhere and employs both single-phase and three-phase connections for AC. Although CCS came late to the charger party in 2014 (five years after CHAdeMO's debut) its take-up is reportedly growing fast.

A fourth proprietary standard, devised by Tesla, is also gaining ground. The Tesla Supercharger system provides three charging speeds: trickle (120 volts/15–20 A), medium (240 V/80 A), and fast (480 V/300 A) providing driving ranges from 3 to 273 kilometers per hour of charging.

The confusion caused by incompatible charger standards is only one of the obstacles preventing a faster adoption of EVs. Other hurdles include high price, limited charging infrastructure, driving range anxiety, and slow charging time.

Should CHAdeMO and CEC gain the support of third countries to create an industry-wide standard for ultrafast charging, it could eliminate some of these hurdles.

But the introduction of a third standard in addition to the existing CHAdeMO and CCS standards will likely pose a major headache for hardware developers, says Kouhei Sagawa, an assistant professor in electrical engineering at Tokai University, in Tokyo. “This will lead to an increase in the development period and in the cost,” he says.

Sagawa, who entered academia after working on the development of electric vehicles for Subaru, points out that auto manufacturers need to change the electrical design of their cars for each new standard, swap out hardware mountings, and test electromagnetic compatibility, among other tasks.

To reduce the burden for manufacturers and enable a smooth deployment of the new charging infrastructure, Sagawa says the new standard should maintain a close affinity with the existing standards. In addition, the EV industry should develop new technologies such as semi-automatic and automatic methods of connecting vehicles to chargers. And since higher currents will be used, they must also reconsider cable sizes.

Meanwhile, CHAdeMO and CEC are pushing ahead with their efforts. Yoshida says the two organizations have approached several countries about joining them, including Australia, Chile, Germany, India, South Korea, and the ASEAN countries.

He added that, provided there is agreement on backward compatibility with existing CHAdeMO standards in the United States and Europe, and the CAN bus remains in place, “We welcome countries who are interested to participate in developing the standard.”

Just how many countries take up that invitation will likely determine whether the new effort creates a truly global standard or merely adds to the present confusion.