3 electric car companies you should know about

Today's transportation industry presents some of the most exciting possibilities for the future: Technologies like autonomous vehicles, electric cars, and the Hyperloop promise to liven up even the most mundane morning commute.

Around the globe, many companies are making strides toward the futuristic vision of purely electric cars and streamlined traffic patterns. In China in particular, there are a number of exciting companies tackling the electric auto industry. One need look no further than the Beijing and Shanghai Auto Shows for proof, where electric vehicles claim the limelight and spiffy new models are rolled out year after year.

Below are three companies you should know, as they may one day be household names.

BYD

BYD (Build Your Dreams) claims the title of the world's largest producer of battery-powered vehicles. The company's product offering and IT expertise is expansive. It deals not only in rechargeable batteries, but also in handset and computer components, traditional fuel-powered vehicles, new energy vehicles, rail transit, solar farming, energy storage, LED technologies — even as niche a product as an "electric forklift."

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The China-based company employs sophisticated technology and a robust, international R&D platform to scope out market opportunities in the energy innovation industry. The organization has hundreds of thousands of employees in 30 industrial parks around the world.

"We've proved that technology can change our life and ultimately the whole world," reads the BYD Auto website. "With its innovative spirit and excellent technologies, BYD has been leading China's auto industry into a new era."

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Kandi Technologies

Based out of Jinhua City, China, Kandi Technologies Group (and its subsidiary Zhejiang Kandi Vehicles Co., Ltd.) is recognized as one of China's top mechanical companies working on EV research, development, manufacturing, and sales. A member of the China Renewable Energy Auto Association, the company focuses primarily on all types of electric vehicles (EVs) as well as battery packs, all-terrain vehicles, and air-conditioning systems.

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In the past few years, Kandi Technologies has shifted its focus to "pure EVs" — or entirely electric vehicles. This means that their cars run entirely on electricity, unlike hybrid vehicles that include both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

In China, there is a huge push for "New Energy Vehicles" (NEVs) in order to cut down on urban pollution — and commuter-centric cars like the ones Kandi produces may just be part of a viable solution. The Global Hawk K17AS, for example, a new model unveiled at the Global New Energy Vehicle Expo earlier this year, is the company's first attempt at an internet-enabled smart electric vehicle. The car comes equipped with a smart remote, in-vehicle 4G internet access, a 12.1-inch touch screen, a state-of-the-art "infotainment system," and uses Alibaba’s YunOS smartphone operating system.

Changjiang EV

A premium Chinese EV brand, Changjiang EV is another company dedicated to the development of cutting-edge pure EV products. Part of FDV EV (which also owns Yunnan FDG, a company that produces electric buses), the Hangzhou Changjiang factory began mass production of its vehicles in 2016.

The company aims to have a global impact beyond just China: Hangzhou Changjiang had a major presence at the 2016 G20 Summit in Hangzhou, providing delegates with transportation via 210 vehicles. The cars were well received at the conference, earning the honors of G20 Hangzhou Summit Super Sponsor and G20 Hangzhou Summit Designated Products from the organizing committee.

In another effort to scale globally and earn international attention, parent company FDG Electric Vehicles Limited began shipping EVs (electric trucks) to the United States in September of 2017. This will pave the way for China to have increased influence on the global EV market.

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The eCOOL (pictured above) is the first passenger car developed by Changjiang and unveiled in 2016; the vehicle mainly targets young urban-dwellers and is available at an attractive price point.

These companies are just three of the NEV and EV companies on the Chinese market to watch — and as the trend toward autonomous and electric vehicles continues to gain traction, it's likely that we'll see even more innovations in this space in the coming months and years.

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