Electric transport dreams

China is engaged in a push to promote electric vehicles, which could promote the wider global adoption of the technology

But even if drivers can be weaned off gasoline, it will be years before China's electric cars can be said to be truly environmentally friendly, writes Ian Lewis. The country is already the world's largest vehicle market in absolute terms, but the room for expansion remains vast. Estimates vary, but vehicle ownership probably stands at no more than 60 per 1,000 people – about half the global average and just a fraction of the 850 per 1,000 of the US. With the country anxious to staunch spiralling oil imports, the potential for rapid expansion of the electric-vehicle sector is attracting government support. China plans to spend nearly $15bn on support for the uptake of environmentally friendly