Electric vehicles (EV) are expected to play an important role as next-generation mobilities. Honda, in cooperation with the People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality in the People’s Republic of China and the Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd., has conducted a social field test using EV with the aim of popularizing new energy vehicles. The results confirmed by this field test and the results of user surveys showed that although EV have lower running costs than gasoline vehicles and are alsoeligible for preferential treatment as new energy vehicles, users feel some unease and hesitate to purchase EV due to short driving ranges and a lack of charging locations in urban areas, so demand remains latent. In addition, it was also found that users do not fully understand the technical safety aspects of the lithium-ion rechargeable batteries used in EV. In order to elicit demand for EV in China, it is necessary to enhance performance such as driving ranges, construct charging infrastructure, and address unease regarding the safety of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.
Article of Honda R&D Technical Review Vol.26 No.1 (101 - 109)