According to one analysis, China will reach their 2020 goal of being the largest manufacturer of electric vehicles in part by focusing on low speed vehicles. The author states that the Chinese government believes this will help them develop expertise for highway capable electric passenger vehicles. This reasoning is disputed in the analysis and I would agree. In fact , one of the reasons California reduced how many credits an LSV is worth in their vehicle emissions regimen is that they did not believe the technology developed for LSVs was transferrable to highway capable electric vehicles. What will be interesting to see in China, where LSVs are more likely to be a consumer’s first vehicle ownership experience, is if LSVs will have greater traction than in the US, where they are typically being purchased by consumers with a lifelong experience with highway capable vehicles. Learn more: Plugincars.com
