
About this episode
New electric vehicles — including both battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles — make up nearly half of new car sales in China. Compared to slowing EV sales in Europe and the U.S. the Chinese market is booming.
So what’s going on?
In this episode, Shayle talks to TP Huang, who writes a Substack about EVs, clean energy, and other tech focused on China. (Editor's note: TP Huang is a pseudonym, used for family reasons.) Shayle and TP cover topics like:
How EVs became extremely cost competitive with internal combustion engines in China where EV prices dip as low as $10,000 USD
Chinese consumer preferences for vehicles packed with features ranging from voice commands to fridges
The ubiquity and interoperability of fast charging, plus battery swapping
The rapid pace of electrification in heavy-duty trucking
Chinese exports to Europe, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere (although not the U.S.)
Recommended Resources:
TP Huang: What's going in the Chinese automotive market
CNN: A brutal elimination round is reshaping the world’s biggest market for electric cars
Bloomberg: Why Europe Is Raising Tariffs on China’s Cheap EVs
Make sure to listen to our new podcast, Political Climate – an insider’s view on the most pressing policy questions in energy and climate. Tune in every other Friday for the latest takes from hosts Julia Pyper, Emily Domenech, and Brandon Hurlbut. Available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Be sure to also check out Living Planet, a weekly show from Deutsche Welle that brings you the stories, facts, and debates on the key environmental issues affecting our planet. Tune in to Living Planet every Friday on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Get every episode summarized
Each time Catalyst with Shayle Kann publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Catalyst with Shayle Kann

Scaling America's domestic solar supply chain
Catalyst with Shayle Kann
Mar 19, 202640:26failed

AI scaling pathways: on grid, on edge, off grid, off planet
Catalyst with Shayle Kann
Mar 12, 202642:32failed

Frontier Forum: How VPPs earn grid-scale trust [partner content]
Catalyst with Shayle Kann
Mar 10, 202635:25completed

Digging deep for super hot geothermal
Catalyst with Shayle Kann
Mar 5, 202636:05pending