Inside China’s EV Graveyard: Journalist Debunks Allegations Against Carmakers

Auto journalist Mark Rainford’s visit to the graveyard in Hangzhou reveals how hundreds of EVs were abandoned.

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Suvrat Kothari

By: Suvrat Kothari

Aug 14, 2023 at 2:03pm ET

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Recently, a YouTuber alleged that Chinese carmakers were overproducing electric cars to obtain government subsidies and beef up sales figures. Shanghai-based auto expert Mark Rainford has quashed these allegations after visiting the so-called Chinese EV graveyard.

The initial accusations stemmed from drone footage of an EV cemetery near Hangzhou in the Zhejiang province, shared by YouTuber Winston Sterzel. He claimed that over 10,000 Neta V models were rotting away in a field. But Rainford’s on-ground investigation revealed that only 146 Neta V cars were parked on the field, while others were different models.

The cars aren’t new, as they have aftermarket seat covers, floor mats, and junk lying in the storage spaces, as per Rainford. The previous video showcased untouched plastic seat covers, so some EVs might have been new when they were driven to these fields.

Moreover, an EV called BAIC BJEV EC3 accounts for the majority of the units seen on the field. It's a small electric hatchback primarily used for ride-sharing purposes.

We reported previously that failed car rental businesses led to abandoned EVs. Following a brief craze for rental e-bikes in China, ride-sharing services witnessed a similar trend. Customers could find rental EVs using an app, unlock them digitally, and then drive away, said Rainford.

But on China’s city roads, public transportation is generally faster, which might have partially contributed to the failure of ride-sharing companies, as per Rainford.