Automotive practitioners and consumers at the ongoing Beijing Auto Show have highlighted the growing popularity of new energy vehicles (NEVs)in the country, and expressed optimism that electric vehicles are set to gain more market share in the near future.
The show, which features 278 NEVs, comes as NEV sales hit a milestone in early April, accounting for more than 50 percent of cars sold in China, showing an overwhelming trend that the Chinese auto industry is going electric.
Consumers are attracted to the novel looks and smart features of rapidly evolving electric vehicles, but they also have higher expectations for new products, especially when it comes to charging and range.
An electric car owner said he hoped for technological improvements in the cars' charging system.
"Charging counts. I hope the car will be more convenient to charge," he said.
To stimulate research and development in the NEV industry, an observer from Europe said there should be more policy support to push the frontier for future vehicles.
"I think that based on all the regulations that are coming all over the world, in Asia [and] especially in Europe -- because I know Europe -- there are going to be more and more companies that will be working on innovation to move forward the EV power train. So, I am pretty sure that we are at the beginning of a new era really," he said.
Gu Huinan, general manager of GAC Aion New Energy Automobile, said they have prepared multiple ways to promote the innovative development of NEVs to meet customers' expectations.
"We are working on multiple paths to electrification, including battery replacement and fast charging. We are now driving innovation and promotion in both areas," said Gu.
Industry insiders, consumers at Beijing Auto Show highlight growing popularity of NEVs
Palestinian protesters and the Israeli army in the West Bank engaged in a tense stand-off on Wednesday as Palestinians commemorated the 76th Nakba day or the "day of catastrophe" in the mist of the intense fighting in Gaza that has displaced over one and a half million people.
Nakba Day is observed annually on May 15 by Palestinians to remember the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes after the establishment of Israel in 1948.
The anniversary often brings heightened tensions as Palestinians believe that their ancestors were displaced from their homeland. Israel stands on territory given to the Jews by Great Britain in return for their support in World War I. But Palestinians have always claimed the land is historically theirs.
Palestinians live in the West Bank under Israeli military rule and Israel controls the borders and areas in which Palestinians can build homes.
Under Jewish law, commemorating Nakba Day is illegal.
"That's against the Israeli law, but as far as the Palestinian law is concerned and as far as the culture of Palestine, the history of our people, and the pride of every Palestinian is to mark this day. Every Palestinian is doing this in defiance and also challenging the Israeli laws," said Sabri Saidam, deputy Secretary General of the Fatah Central Committee.
Saidam believes the only path towards peace is a two-state solution.
"There is no way on this land but to achieve co-existence. The future is dependent on the fulfillment of U.N. resolutions and on adherence to international law. There's no one party that can throw the other into the sea. There's no one people that can throw the other into the sea. So we will have to invest in trying to convince Israelis at large that their government is not doing them any favor. And those who claim to be the friends of Israel and are supporting the genocide that Israel is committing right now as we speak are not true friends, because your friends would tell you where the right path is. And the only right path is the establishment of a Palestinian state," said Sabri Saidam.
Palestinians say this year's anniversary is more important than ever as they claim a present-day Nakba is taking place in Gaza.
Defiant Palestinians in West Bank commemorate "Nakba" amid intense fighting in Gaza
Defiant Palestinians in West Bank commemorate "Nakba" amid intense fighting in Gaza
