China–U.S. ZEV Policy Lab Formed

September 9, 2014

Patrick Ponticel

Yunshi Wang, Director of the China Center for Energy and Transportation at UC Davis (left), and Zhixin Wu, Deputy Director of the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, sign a memorandum of for the partnership. The ceremony took place Sept. 6, 2014, in Tianjin, China. Behind them, from left, are Alberto Ayala, Deputy Executive Officer of the California Air Resources Board, and Gang Li, Department Chief of the Industry Coordination Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission. (CATARC)

The University of California-Davis, and CATARC (China Automotive Technology and Research Center) will cooperate to speed commercialization of plug-in and fuel-cell electric cars in China and the U.S. under an agreement signed Sept. 6 in Tianjin, China. The five-year memorandum of understanding establishes the China–U.S. ZEV Policy Lab, a partnership between UC Davis and CATARC (the administrative body that oversees and regulates many activities of the auto industry in China). Primary UC Davis partners are the university's Institute of Transportation Studies and the UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy. The California Air Resources Board and the China National Development and Reform Commission have supported the agreement and will co-chair the new entity’s advisory board. Major international and Chinese automotive and energy companies will also be invited to participate. The intent behind the collaboration is to help expand the global market for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by providing intellectual support for design of ZEV policies and analysis of consumer markets, including demand for charging stations, different types of ZEV technologies, and effectiveness of incentives. The creation of the China–U.S. ZEV Policy Lab follows several recent measures announced by the Chinese government to fight the country’s hazardous smog and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In July, it mandated that electric cars make up at least 30% of government vehicle purchases by 2016. The Chinese government also recently announced new financial incentives for electric-car purchases.