Chinese government sets ambitious battery production goals

New regulations for the production of batteries, both nickel-hydrogen and lithium-ion, have been submitted to China's State Council, according to Wang Shulin, a National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)'s expert. China's current production figures for batteries are expected to exceed 140,000 kWh (nickel) and 900,000 kWh (lithium) by the end of this year. These figures are expected to reach 360,000 kWh and 4 million kWh, respectively, for 2010. Bearing in mind that an average EV might use a 30 kWh battery (see some examples here), up to 150,000 EVs could be powered by these new packs. Still, the NDRC predicts there will be 100,000 electric cars by 2012 and 4 million in 2020.

[Source: Gasgoo]