Over 80% of the core components for auto batteries have to be imported if China wants to develop new energy vehicles now, Zhang Xiaoyu, Chairman of the Society of Automotive Engineers of China, said at the seventh China (Changchun) International Automobile Exhibition yesterday.

The electric vehicle is a major new-energy vehicle China currently strives to develop well, but the key technologies like electronic control technology, motor technology and particularly the battery technology, are still under development and have not achieved commercialization. At present, China still needs to import over 80% of the batter anodes and battery separators, Zhang added. In view of the high import rates on core battery components, the country's industry experts say China should not overestimate new energy vehicles as the market and technologies are immature. Instead, more attention should be paid to the research and innovation of the batter systems. China has the fourth largest lithium reserves in the world, an advantage which also gives it the greatest potential to develop the auto battery systems; especially the Chinese government has been increasing the investment in the field. Therefore, the government, enterprises and research institutions should cooperate to develop China's new energy automobile industry, said James E. Smith, president of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International at the exhibition.