New energy vehicles are increasingly popular with motorists in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi province in East China. Production of the vehicles in Jiangxi province increased by 1.4 times last year, according to Peng Yongping, deputy director of the Jiangxi Provincial Bureau of Statistics.

The city has completed new product research and development for more than 60 kinds of new energy vehicle, including pure electric and hybrid cars. Last year, the city's new energy vehicle production exceeded 15,000, with a total output value of about 1.8 billion yuan ($270.8 million; 232.8 million euros; ￡205.7 million).

The new energy vehicle industry is one of the three leading industries in the State-level Nanchang Economic and Technological Development Zone, which is a large-scale industrial complex funded by the Nanchang government. The zone specializes in integrated, environmentally friendly industries. Chen Yu, deputy secretary of the zone, says that, since the beginning, it has taken green development very seriously and actively recruits environmentally friendly enterprises to locate there.

The zone helps companies gain access to special funds. For example, a sewage pipe network project, which required a total investment of more than 700 million yuan, received 30 million yuan from a national fund.

The zone is striving to improve the efficiency of resource and energy use and reduce polluting emissions by rebuilding its recycling system, constructing a green industrial chain, sharing infrastructure and improving production technology and management.

A key step in building a "circular" economy is to save energy by comprehensively using and reusing waste. Rebuilding the recycling system in the zone can improve the eco-industrial chain of new energy vehicles, garbage transfer stations, industrial waste recycling and other infrastructure. The concept of a circular economy and green environmental protection is stressed for all enterprises that are producing goods in the zone, adds Chen.

The zone has built a public platform where garbage can be used in biogas power generation and scrap metal can be sold to disposal companies. Auto parts, waste copper and scrap are processed and sold back to the new materials industry, thus comprehensively using resources to maximize benefits.

China is now the world's largest importer of oil, of which 60 to 70 percent is used for cars. The development of the new energy vehicle industry can ease China's oil demand, says Shan Fengwu, deputy general manager of Jiangxi Jiangling Motors Group Electric Vehicles Co.

Jiangxi has copper, lithium, tungsten, rare earth and other resources that are necessary to the new energy vehicles industry. The reserves, extraction and comprehensive utilization of those special resources in Jiangxi province are among the best in the country, and indeed the world.

At present, the average purchase cost of a new energy vehicle made by Jiangxi Jiangling Motors Group Electric Vehicles Co is 70,000 yuan, and more than 70 percent of the parts come from Jiangxi.

The green development concept is integrated into the manufacturing and research and development of new energy vehicles. Car coating and welding are the biggest pollution contributors in producing vehicles but, thanks to gas and sewage treatment, there are no bad odors in the zone.

The company uses the time-sharing rental model to encourage people to rent their new energy vehicles. At present, charging a new vehicle takes one-and-a-half hours in fast mode, and the range of a vehicle is up to 200 kilometers. It is expected to reach 250 km or more next year.

In the next three years, Jiangxi Jiangling Motors Group Electric Vehicles Co will have a sound marketing and after-sales service network in all corners in the country, says Shan.

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(China Daily Africa Weekly 11/03/2017 page8)