China has the largest passenger car market in the world; cars now consume approximately half of all crude oil used in China and also contribute to large portions of all harmful pollutants in China. In an effort to reduce these harmful impacts from passenger cars, the Chinese government has promoted the use of energy-efficient and alternative-energy vehicles through federal subsidies and other incentives, with priority given to plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs). But how effective are these government incentives in overcoming the barriers to EV adoption in China? In this talk, John will explain the results of his study examining U.S. and Chinese consumer preferences towards electric vehicles. He will also introduce the work he is conducting this summer at Tsinghua University on the energy and environmental implications of EV preferences and policies in China as well as his study on how firm ownership is influencing how Chinese automakers innovate.
Wednesday, June 25, 8:30pm
“Electric Vehicles in China: A Nexus of Consumer Preferences, Policy, Innovation and the Environment”
John Helveston, Ph.D. Student in Engineering & Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University
Beijing Energy Network | Beijing Energy & Environment Roundtable (BEER)
Abella | Free | Open to Public
China has the largest passenger car market in the world; cars now consume approximately half of all crude oil used in China and also contribute to large portions of all harmful pollutants in China. In an effort to reduce these harmful impacts from passenger cars, the Chinese government has promoted the use of energy-efficient and alternative-energy vehicles through federal subsidies and other incentives, with priority given to plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs). But how effective are these government incentives in overcoming the barriers to EV adoption in China? In this talk, John will explain the results of his study examining U.S. and Chinese consumer preferences towards electric vehicles. He will also introduce the work he is conducting this summer at Tsinghua University on the energy and environmental implications of EV preferences and policies in China as well as his study on how firm ownership is influencing how Chinese automakers innovate.
John Paul Helveston is a 4th year doctoral student in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University; his research compares how local factors in China and the U.S. influence the development of hybrid and electric vehicle technologies. His most recent work is on estimating consumer preferences for electrified vehicles in China and the U.S. He is co-advised by Erica Fuchs and Jeremy Michalek, and is also a member of the Vehicle Electrification Group and Design Decisions Laboratory at CMU. John graduated from Virginia Tech in 2010 with a B.S. in Engineering Science and Mechanics and minors in Chinese and Violin Performance. He is a fluent speaker of Mandarin Chinese and also an internationally-renowned and award-winning swing dancer.
