Abstract

Annual electric bike (e-bike) sales in China grew from the 40,000 in 1998 to 10 million in 2005. This rapid transition from human-powered bicycles and gasoline-powered scooters to an all-electric vehicle/fuel technology system is special in the evolution of transportation technology and, thus far, unique to China. We examine how and why e-bikes developed so quickly in China with particular focus on the key technical, economic, and political factors involved. This case study provides an important lesson to policy makers in China and abroad on how strong regulatory policy, given the evolution of technology to a market acceptable product, can change the purchase choice of millions and the direction of a technology system. This lesson is especially important as China embarks on a large-scale transition to personal vehicles.

Presentation: http://www.cleanairnet.org/baq2006/1757/docs/SP6_3.ppt