US media: To reduce oil dependence, Asian megacities can learn from China

Ask AI · How can China’s electrification transition provide a new path to energy security for Asian cities?

Bloomberg April 7 report, original title: Megacities can use “extreme China-style” methods to break free from oil shocks The largest migration wave in human history is clogging the streets of these cities. In Asia, the populations of Jakarta and Dhaka have already surpassed Tokyo, followed closely by Delhi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Manila, Kolkata, Seoul, Karachi, and Bangkok. Even if everything goes smoothly, maintaining such a massive population’s mobility is already a challenge. When transportation fuel prices double, the problem follows. For some new Asian megacities, the oil crisis spreading from the Strait of Hormuz is like an acute flare-up of a chronic illness.

The good news is that Asia has a country that has already gone through this cycle. China has offered valuable lessons on how to cut the costs of oil imports and residents’ transportation expenses, reduce noise and tailpipe pollution, and make everyday urban life for ordinary people more pleasant. In 2025, China’s production and sales of new energy vehicles both exceeded 16 million units. The share of domestic new-vehicle sales accounted for by new energy vehicles surpassed 50%. Asia’s super megacities can emulate the “extreme China-style” approach that has recently swept across social media—this population giant has plenty worth learning from.

Falling battery costs are changing the regional landscape and also providing a shortcut to creating more livable urban environments. For example, the share of particulate pollution produced by traditional motorcycles and scooters is too high; the noise generated by just one traditional motorcycle equals that of 30 electric bicycles. Now, as you look at China’s major cities where electric vehicles have become the norm, you’ll be surprised to find how quiet these cities are. By the end of 2024, across China there were 658k urban public buses and electric buses, including 544k new-energy buses, accounting for 82.7%.

(The transition from traditional internal-combustion vehicles to electric cars is a challenge that requires tens of billions of dollars and years. In this situation, for governments that have fallen into fiscal trouble due to turmoil in the Middle East, “extreme China-style” changes to their fleets of domestic motorcycles, trucks, and buses would be a faster and more economical solution. (Author David Fickling))

South China Morning Post April 6 article, original title: The China electric truck revolution Wang Yuan (pronounced) , a market manager, sells electric heavy-duty freight trucks in China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang. Today, related business is growing by riding a strong new wave. Besides Xinjiang, most of the electric heavy trucks produced by the company where he works are sold to coal-rich provinces such as Shanxi and Inner Mongolia. Breakthrough advances in upstream battery technology and fast-charging systems, along with strong government support policies, have together driven China’s electric truck market penetration at a rapid pace. Designed specifically for hauling, towing, and transporting large quantities of goods, equipment, or raw materials, these vehicles are gradually becoming commonplace across China.

Wang said: “Since 2022, the sales of electric heavy-duty trucks nationwide have grown year over year by an average of 30% to 50%. Transport companies are changing their mindset, realizing that switching from traditional diesel vehicles to electric vehicles is the right direction.”

This shift provides an unexpected buffer against external disruptions, with the clearest example being the fighting currently underway in Iran. War has shaken the stable supply of oil and natural gas, causing prices to soar. A relevant official with the International Intelligent Transportation Technology Association said that this large-scale transition is expected to reduce China’s reliance on oil in the Gulf region and significantly enhance domestic energy security.

As Beijing continues to emphasize a “domestic economic circulation system,” experts predict that sales of electric heavy trucks will rise sharply from the 2025 level. Wang Yuan has also noticed a subtle yet significant change in customers’ attitudes. Some customers last year had firmly refused to consider electric trucks; now they have changed their stance, saying they “might be willing to buy one or two to try.” (Author Dannie Peng, translated by Chen Junan)