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January 29, 2018 3:30 pm JST
China accelerates push to develop motors for electric cars
Government gives full backing in drive to become auto superpower

ATSUNOBU TAKESHITA, Nikkei staff writer


BYD's Song EV300 is displayed in a Beijing showroom.

TOKYO -- As global carmakers race to roll out a new wave of electric vehicles, China is pushing hard in the battle to develop the motors that power them.



At present, Japanese manufacturers have the advantage, drawing on the expertise in motors they developed for hybrid cars. But this dominance could diminish, as research is losing momentum. Some speculate that this could allow China to begin a global power shift for motors, as well as more widely across the electric car sector.

Chinese manufacturers began accelerating the development of electric car motors after the government laid out a development plan for "new energy vehicles," namely electric, hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles, in 2012. Beijing has introduced measures and subsidies to promote the industry and encourage consumers to buy electric cars.

One major goal is to counteract serious air pollution in China. But the enthusiasm also hints at Beijing's ambition to control technologies at home for next-generation cars, and eventually dominate the global market, by attracting factories from foreign companies eager to penetrate the huge Chinese auto market.

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, currently being held in Detroit, it has become clear that Chinese automakers are increasingly shifting their attention to electric vehicles, with
The Chinese government's policy on new energy vehicles cites batteries, motors and control systems as areas to focus on for development.

Electric motors were invented 200 years ago. The component is often considered a fully established technology, but "electric vehicles require different types of expertise," said Akira Chiba, a professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology specializing in motor technologies.

Two factors typically determine a motor's power output: rotation speed and torque -- the twisting force for rotation. Electric car motors require greater torque when moving a vehicle at low speed, while high-speed driving needs high rotation speeds.

For early versions of hybrid and electric vehicles, carmakers developed and mass-produced motors themselves. They are now shifting to diversify sources for procurement, including from outside suppliers, to stay competitive. Another idea is to develop a combined module of motors and other parts, such as transmissions, to improve overall performance.

German auto component maker Bosch recently decided to sell its motor manufacturing unit to a Chinese component maker.