Slashdot Mirror


Power Surge: Chinese Electric Car Battery Maker Charges For Global Market (reuters.com)

A dusty village on the outskirts of Ningde, a third-tier city in China's southeast, seems an unlikely place for the headquarters of a potential global leader in future automotive technology. Reuters writes about a promising company from China that is eyeing global expansion. From the article: Yet China's top-down industrial policy diktats - move up the value chain, clean up polluted urban skies, and shift to plug-in cars -- have Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd poised to go from hometown hero to national champion, and beyond. China's answer to Japan's Panasonic Corp and South Korea's LG Chem Ltd has tripled its production capacity for lithium-ion car batteries in the past year to keep up with a surge in China's sales of electric cars. After a second major funding round completed in October, the company's value quadrupled to 80 billion yuan ($11.5 billion), CEO Huang Shilin said last week. CATL, which hopes to list on Beijing's over-the-counter exchange as part of plans to raise at least another 30 billion yuan by 2020, could be a dominant force globally.

28 comments

  1. Over the counter by 110010001000 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Sounds like someone is pushing an over the counter stock scam.

    1. Re:Over the counter by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 1

      I heard the Chinese will also build a ginkgo-factory that will revolutionize production.

    2. Re:Over the counter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Sounds like someone is pushing an over the counter stock scam."

      Note the name: "Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd."
      "Amperex" is an old worthy name in Vacuum Tube and Semiconductor technologies, now long defunct.
      This company simply stole the name outright; there is _no_ relation between the two companies.
      Scam, scam, scam, scam, scam....

  2. Maybe electric cars are no good for China at the m by Zorpheus · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A large part of their electricity is produced in coal power plants, which don't even have sufficient filtering for soothe and sulfur oxide. An electric car running from such power plants is way worse for the local and global environment than a petrol car. More CO2, lots of additional SO2 and soothe.
    They should focus on these power plants and on their kitchen fireplaces first.

  3. Re: Maybe electric cars are no good for China at t by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes. These batteries require electricity from coal power plants. Sad.

  4. Re: Maybe electric cars are no good for China at t by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Experience the calming warmth of our new coal power plant..join us and be soothed.

  5. Method Acting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wow, the Chinese are really taking this whole climate change conspiracy to the next level. I mean, it's obviously a scam to make America less competitive, but they seem to be wasting a lot of money trying to fool everybody.

    1. Re:Method Acting by blindseer · · Score: 1

      Let's assume someone is doing a scam, perhaps in housing. A single person in a bank or other financial institution cannot create a housing bubble but if enough people like this get together to collude then they might be able to pull it off. If other banks see this artificial housing market come along then they might get into it to make some money too. These banks outside the circle might see this as a scam, merely suspect it is a scam but can't prove it to anyone, or are oblivious to the scam. Whether they know it is a scam or not they will act in their best interest to make money for themselves.

      The house builder just sees the value of housing go up. So he builds more houses. If he sees business improve enough then he'll hire on more people. Some others will see this as a good business to get into and create a new business to build houses, or expand an existing business to do what they already do. For example a person that already has a good business selling replacement windows, siding, and roofing might see more business in building more houses rather than repairing existing ones. Again, these people building the houses might know that there is a scam involved, or not, but either way they will act in their best interests to make money.

      When the scam falls apart, and they all do or it's not really a scam, then the people that started it all put on their golden parachutes and make a soft landing in retirement, or creating the next scam. Those that didn't make plans for a soft landing are left in a severe financial position. This might include the people in the scam and those that weren't, those that planned for the scam to run out did well.

      If there is a global warming hoax then we cannot assume that everyone in the "green" energy business know it is a hoax. Some people might just be in it for the money. Some might be in it for the "good of the planet" or something. Since this is China we're talking about, and they are wanting to build product to sell around the world, then it is possible that they are not in on the hoax but instead see profit. If they are in on the hoax then they'll say one thing publicly and do another thing privately. Given their air quality issues in the recent past it is difficult to tell. They might not care about global warming but instead care about air quality. It is also possible they don't care about either but want to get in on the money making from the hoax created in the West.

      In short, this proves nothing either way on if there is some sort of global warming conspiracy or not.

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
  6. Re:Maybe electric cars are no good for China at th by Ritz_Just_Ritz · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This isn't material to the decision making in China. What IS material is that there are either explicit (not likely) or hidden (likely) ownership interests by people in the government who stand to benefit. They will benefit if it's a scam or a bona fide export engine and will quietly squirrel the proceeds out of the country. The only people worried about dirty air in China are the impacted citizens and they don't have a shred of political power to influence the outcome.

  7. Chinese Battery by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What could possibly go wrong?

    1. Re:Chinese Battery by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly the same as batteries made anywhere else?

  8. Re:Maybe electric cars are no good for China at th by Falconhell · · Score: 1

    Or they could plan to charge from home solar, and gain multiple benefits.
    I just dont understand the negative attitude to what is a logical technological change.

  9. Re: Maybe electric cars are no good for China at t by Zorpheus · · Score: 1

    It is not logical as long as new coal power plants are built. It is only logical if you ignore where the additional power comes from, or if your place relies on renewable energy.

  10. Re:Maybe electric cars are no good for China at th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Some people seem to think that people/cities/companies/countries can only do one thing at a time and that problems need to be solved in a particular order because of that.

  11. Re: Maybe electric cars are no good for China at t by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's ridiculous. Only electricity from coal power plants could charge them, faggot.

  12. Paid Publicity by BoxRec · · Score: 2

    Surely there should be some disclaimer explaining this is a paid for publicity and not a genuine article of interest.

  13. No puns in the subjet title please by Solandri · · Score: 1

    Don't act like a newspaper which needs clever headlines to get you to notice the paper and buy it. We're already reading the site. You don't need to hook us.

    Because of the puns, I thought this was a story about some Chinese battery manufacturer which had cracked the quick charge problem (the biggest problem holding back EV battery tech today). Instead it's just another regular battery company getting funding. Thanks for wasting my time.

  14. Re: Maybe electric cars are no good for China at t by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It is not logical as long as new coal power plants are built.

    Chinese coal production and consumption both peaked in 2013, and are declining.
    Coal in China.

    It is only logical if you ignore where the additional power comes from

    Net new production is not coming from coal.

    or if your place relies on renewable energy.

    China is the world leader in both wind and solar.

  15. Re:Maybe electric cars are no good for China at th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    worst yet, coal plants in china do NOT run pollution controls. There are more pollution controls on gas/diesel cars in CHina, then on any of their coal plants.

    Windbourne (moderating).

  16. Re:Maybe electric cars are no good for China at th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    look at the pixs in china and then you will understand why the average solar panel there gets around 15-20% efficiency, and wind generators are well below 25%.
    Windbourne( moderating ).

  17. Re:Maybe electric cars are no good for China at th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A large part of their electricity is produced in coal power plants,[...]

    They should focus on these power plants and on their kitchen fireplaces first.

    It's easier to get scrubbing in place for a few(er) number of coal plants than all the cars and scooters in China, especially the older ones.

  18. Re:Maybe electric cars are no good for China at th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Coal use has already peaked a few years ago and the air quality is improving. Maybe you should have a clue about what you are typing first.

  19. Re:Maybe electric cars are no good for China at th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Other way around, cars charge from coal plants and the grid. The grid will get used car batteries to charge from home solar and solar, some homes will get used car batteries as well.

  20. Re:Maybe electric cars are no good for China at th by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A large part of their electricity is produced in coal power plants, which don't even have sufficient filtering for soothe and sulfur oxide. An electric car running from such power plants is way worse for the local and global environment than a petrol car. More CO2, lots of additional SO2 and soothe.

    They should focus on these power plants and on their kitchen fireplaces first.

    They can't, not if they are going for the global market as the summary states.
    At most they could refuse to do business with countries that aren't taking actions to shut down coal power plants.

    You also need to check your sources for coal power plant emissions vs. petrol cars. Sound like you are using Volkswagen numbers.

  21. Re: Maybe electric cars are no good for China at t by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    China is the world leader in a lot of things if you measure in absolute values. But are they relatively?

    As of 2015:
    China: 43.2 gigawatts of solar capacity for 1.400.000.000 people
    Germany: 38.4 gigawatts of solar capacity for 81.000.000 people

    A little math and you find that per Germany has 15 times more solar capacity per capita.

    Sources:
    https://www.technologyreview.com/s/601093/china-is-on-an-epic-solar-power-binge/
    Wikipedia for population estimates

  22. "Industrial policy diktats"?? by haruchai · · Score: 2

    I don't know what a "diktat" is but it sounds very painful

    Yet China's top-down industrial policy diktats - move up the value chain, clean up polluted urban skies, and shift to plug-in cars

    --
    Pain is merely failure leaving the body
  23. Re: Maybe electric cars are no good for China at t by haruchai · · Score: 1

    A little math and you find that per Germany has 15 times more solar capacity per capita

    Perhaps because Germany is so sunny? ;-) It must be true because I heard it on Fox News!!
    https://youtu.be/fe3vxu9vxAQ?t...

    In all seriousness, Germany's early solar efforts are impressive but China (& India) should catch & pass them within 5-10 years.
    And then there's solar water heating where China has led not only Germany but ALL of the EU combined and accounts for more than 1/2 the global total.
    America has long been a laggard in the adoption of this tech but made significant gains after 2008.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    --
    Pain is merely failure leaving the body