World's electric car pioneers gather in Shanghai

Shanghai (CNS) -- The first pure electric vehicle (EV) of American auto maker CODA went on display in the Experience Center of China (Shanghai) Electric Vehicle International Pilot City on Wednesday.

Well-known car makers from the U.S., Sweden and China are scrambling into the Experience Center into EV production.

The new model from CODA is in volume production and has been on the U.S. market for less than a month.

EV drivers reported that their experience with last year's models was that EVs run just as well as traditional cars but at much lower costs and less environmental impact, according to Rong Wenwei, a manager at the Shanghai International Automobile City.

The EV is the right choice for urban drivers, Rong added. By the end of this year, about 20 more brands of EVs will join the pilot city exhibition stage.

In 2012, the Shanghai government is increasing the percentage of EVs in new purchases for its official fleet to more than 30 percent, said an insider, and private buyers are encouraged to turn to this "zero-emission" option.