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One of the biggest factors of the development of alternative energy vehicles is the governments’ position. There are more than two hundred countries and areas, and thousands of departments of government related to energy, automobile, and transportation. So, the attitudes of governments are significantly affect the development of alternative energy vehicles.
For example, China passed a regulation affecting its automobile industry in 2013. The regulation allows Chinese local automobile corporations to corporate with foreign companies as a part of the company’s stock share, whereas the Chinese local companies are able to combine their own technologies and the technologies from the foreign companies. As China Daily reported in 2014:
The leading power and automation technology group ABB announced its strategic cooperation with Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co Ltd (BDNT) to roll out electric vehicle (EV) fast charger network in China over the next six years.
The cooperation of ABB and BDNT is a positive result of the regulation. If the government supports the development of alternative energy vehicles, or at least doesn’t set blocks or difficulties from the government perspective, the automobile manufacturers and companies will be able to try their best to develop new energies and use them on their vehicles.
On the opposite side, the Obama government stopped supporting and providing funds for the hydrogen program of Ford because of the high budget in 2008. Of course, the cost of developing hydrogen vehicle is very high and a lot of money might spend in nothing if the program fails. But, remember Thomas Edison failed hundred times before finally invented light bulb; remember Toyota spent twenty years and trillions of dollars in the development of the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell car – Mirai. “The trends are similarly positive with respect to improving the durability of fuel-cell engines, lowering the cost of producing hydrogen, and finding a low-carbon means of doing so. (2009, Service, pg. 1259)” The trend and the future that the author predicts for hydrogen car is good and this will be the direction of new energy development and it does need supports from the government.
The attitudes of governments are important for automobile companies. No matter whether the governments provide funds or not, the supporting and positive attitudes will give a huge boost for automobile industry.