The Electric Vehicle Development: Experiences Aboard and Enlightenment to China

In order to respond to the energy crisis and environment problem, countries carry out their research and promotion about electric vehicles. As the "ten cities one thousand new energy buses" started in 2009, the new energy vehicles have been greatly developed in China, while the development of electric vehicles is not that good. This paper selects four cities-Los Angeles, Kanagawa, Hamburg, Amsterdam-that promote electric vehicles successfully and deeply analyzes the development of electric vehicles in these four cities and analyzes the factors that affect the development of electric vehicles in three aspects-city environment, government and stakeholders. Then the paper discusses the promotion ways and role of government and consumer. Finally, the paper offers some suggestions to promote electric vehicles in China: focusing on feasibility and adaptability of electric vehicles, playing government's leading role, improving low-awareness and acceptance of electric vehicles and focusing on user requirements.