China Hosts Inaugural Meeting of China-U.S. ZEV Policy Lab

Representatives from ITS-Davis, California Air Resources Board (ARB), China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), Chinese agencies involved in vehicle regulations, and major automakers came together in Beijing in early June for the inaugural advisory board meeting of the China-U.S. ZEV Policy Lab.

Policy Lab co-directors Zhixin Wu, vice president of CATARC, and Yunshi Wang, director of C-CET at UC Davis, hosted the meeting. Wu serves as the chairman of China’s New Energy Vehicle Standards Committee and is currently responsible for establishing the country’s vehicle driving cycle standards, including those for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). Yonghe Huang, chief engineer and automotive industry policy expert at CATARC, presided.

Alberto Ayala, deputy executive officer of ARB, and Gang Li, director of the Mechanical Equipment Department of the Industry Coordination Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), co-led an afternoon discussion. Ayala presented on California’s zero emission vehicle (ZEV) policy and its efforts to reach out to other states and countries. C-CET’s Wang briefed participants on the recent activities and near future plans for the ZEV Policy Lab. A Chinese expert on cap and trade presented highlights of China’s emission trading system in seven pilot regions, and UC Davis researchers Tom Turrentine and Gil Tal presented their latest findings on consumer and market response to PEVs.

One highlight of the meeting was discussion of options for China to adopt a vehicle policy similar to California’s ZEV regulation. Automaker representatives on the ZEV Policy Lab advisory board representing Beijing EV Co., Daimler, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Honda offered observations and perspectives on possible pathways for ZEV policy in China. Other OEMs also provided their insights.

Turrentine and Tal also conducted a separate training workshop for Chinese PEV researchers who are collecting data on PEVs. They had been invited to the workshop by the Energy Foundation.