China invested 880 million yuan (US$106.4 million) into a state research and development project on fuel cell and hybrid cars, producing several prototypes.

Xu Jing, vice-director of the Ministry of Science and Technology High Technologies Department, told Xinhua Wednesday his ministry is overseeing the project of developing fuel cell, hybrid and electric cars.

Wan Gang, president of Tongji University in Shanghai and coordinator of the executive body for the research and development plan, said China's first fuel cell car ran more than 4,000 kilometers and the first fuel cell bus was tested for 8,000 kilometers.

The first hybrid bus, which was tested in commuter lines in Wuhan in Hubei Province, uses 30 percent less gas than a regular bus, said Wan, an auto designer who worked for Audi for over a decade.

Electricity-powered bus fleets were experimenting in Beijing, Wuhan, Tianjin and Weihai.

While organizing to produce cars, Wan said, the state project is also aimed to set up national technical standards for concerned auto products. Six tryout centers have already been established in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Dalian.

The electric car could reach the highest speed of 120 kilometers every hour and use 70 kwh in every 100 kilometers, he said.

The state project also stimulated over 200 corporate and individual investors to pour funds in developing the energy-saving and environment-friendly products.

With five percent of the R&D expenditure Japan or other developed countries spent, Xu said, Chinese technologists made similar advancement in the field in the past four years.

"The main purpose of the state project is to build our own capacity in competing with developed countries in tomorrow's auto industry," Xu said.  

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2004)