Shenzhen, known as Silicon Valley of hardware, is taking serious steps in turning its taxis electric for a green push. Already, by the end of 2017, all public buses in the Chinese city turned electric. This smart approach has made the roads in China much quieter in the last few years.
Now, Shenzhen aims to transform 99% of cars, which is approximately 21,000 cabs into electric. However, shortage of charging stations in the city is a major problem. This has left 80% of Shenzhen’s cab drivers unsatisfied. To speed up electric cars’ deployment, Shenzhen needs to improve the underpinning infrastructure with greater allocation of charging stations.
Thrust on Better Air Quality to Make China World Leader in Battery Technology
Shenzhen’s electrifying revolution, started in 2010, is spearheading China’s electric dream to a great extent. Shenzhen, the headquarters of Warren Buffet-backed battery and car manufacturer BYD, is pushing many Chinese cities to be part of China’s grand plan. It entails rolling out hybrid and all-electric vehicles to benefit both consumers and manufacturers. Carmaker BYD is aiming to electrify public transport system in overseas countries too. Those include Egypt, Singapore, Chile, and the U.K.
Shenzhen’s traffic authority has declared that the entire fleet of electric cabs has resulted in cutting carbon emissions by 856 thousand metric tons in a year. The electric vehicles are 70% more energy-efficient compared to those conventional fossil fuel powered cabs. This thrust on electric vehicles by Shenzhen will positively impact the environment.
