The Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) is
looking to advance past other “Big Five” Chinese automakers by greening its inventory.
SAIC Group plans to introduce the mild-hybrid Roewe 750, which uses 20% less
fuel than traditional sedans, throughout China in 2010. The automaker also
plans to introduce the Roewe 550 plug-in to Chinese consumers in 2012. The
China International Industry Fair in early November was the coming-out party
for SAIC’s future vehicle lines with a half-dozen green prototypes.
Half of these prototypes will use hydrogen fuel cells as their primary power sources. The Shenchi Brand 11-seat car is ideal for neighborhood driving with a 25 miles per hour limit
and 50 miles of range. The UNDP fuel cell bus is part of the Chinese government’s
fuel cell demonstration project designed to bring cleaner buses to streets
nationwide. The Shanghai Brand fuel cell hybrid sedan blends a miniature
hydrogen fuel cell source with plug-in capabilities for extended range.
SAIC Group presented two hybrid models and one all-electric
model to show its longer view on clean vehicles. The Shenchi Brand four-seat
car travels up to 22 miles per hour with a maximum range of 50 miles, which is
best for trips around the neighborhood. SAIC Group’s LaCrosse hybrid reduces
fuel economy from other SAIC sedans by 16% thanks to an efficient 2.4-liter ECO
engine. The Shanghai Brand hybrid sedan will be the model for the 2010 mild
hybrid with a maximum speed of 127 miles per hour for speed freaks.
SAIC Group will get a chance to put these prototypes in
action as courtesy vehicles at Expo 2010, in keeping with the event’s “Better
City-Better Life” theme. To bring these prototypes to market, SAIC Group will
need to stick to its current blueprint no matter the temptation to cut back on
research and development in tough economic times. This auto giant is using relationships with local and
regional companies to develop components for battery-electric and hybrid
vehicles. SAIC Group is working in-house to develop an electronic drive system
by 2012 instead of relying on outside partners. If SAIC Group brings even a
portion of its green vehicle fleet to market, it will surmount other Chinese automakers
stuck on producing economy-sized gas vehicles.
