Notes from Shenzhen #2 - e-mobilty experience in a Mega + Quiet City

China’s hi-tech hub of Shenzhen, which is also one of the country’s major cities has achieved a nearly fully electric taxi fleet. As of the start of the year, 99% of 21,689 taxis operating in the city are electric taxis. The tech city present in the Guangdong province of the southeast part of China plays a vital role in the surging market of EV's in China.

Shenzhen is the world’s only city to have 100% electric buses. It is also one of the first Chinese cities to set a goal to replace all gasoline-run taxis with new electric vehicles, which includes pure battery vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

And that’s not a coincidence. Shenzhen is home to BYD, the world’s second largest EV maker after Tesla.

Electric vehicles are seen as an opportunity by the Chinese administration to surpass the competitors prevailing in the electric market. The country is setting itself as the leader in the manufacturing of smart electric vehicles.

And the grand success of these small vehicles in the country pinpoints the fact that this dream will certainly become a reality in the coming years.Shenzhen marks the second and largest city in China to complete the conversion of its taxi fleet to electric taxis following in the footsteps of Taiyuan which has been served only by electric taxis since 2016.

Apart from taxis, Shenzhen has also been operating a fully electric bus fleet since 2017 and the city’s government is continuing to promote the development of alternative energy public transport in the city to cut smog and reduce emissions.

With the new electric taxis, carbon emissions in the city is expected to be reduced by about 850,000 tons annually. However, the electric initiative has yet to include ride-hailing and ride-sharing services which are highly popular in China.

The largest challenge for the city in its all-electric conversion campaign was providing spaces for recharging the taxis. Currently, the city has a network of about 20,000 public charging stations which is expected to be able to meet most of the demand.

The city’s electric taxis come equipped with a smart terminal which tells drivers areas in the city which are facing a shortage of taxis such as the airport or railway station and directs them there. It also displays the fare and route to customers, preventing drivers from overcharging them or taking longer routes.

The obsession for electric vehicles in China is also a byproduct of the government policy rather than the economics of the market. Not only these small vehicles are cheap, environment-friendly and easy to maintain, but they also provide an extra advantage of huge tax incentives and subsidies provided by the government. The government’s policy has not only added a cherry to the cake in motivating the people of the Chinese Republic, but it will also be helpful in the reduction of environmental pollution from the country. Also, these tiny electric cars will aid in the reduction of traffic found on the streets of the overpopulated country.

All these factors have acted as a catalytic agent in the boom of electric vehicles in the Chinese market and have become an integral part of the everyday life of the Chinese citizens.