1. Introduction

In the process of modernization, China will have to face the challenges of ensuring energy security and of mitigating climate change over the long term. China is currently one of the fastest growing regions in the global automotive market and has become the world’s largest nation of automobile consumers and producers. Automotive energy has therefore become a core energy and environmental issue for the country. China intends to establish a sustainable automotive energy system. However, there is as of yet no currently recognized standard definition of such a system anywhere in the world. The resource endowment, population and geography, economic and social development levels, infrastructure characteristics of energy and transportation, and technological innovation capability of energy and transportation vary by country. We believe there are six basic standards for estimating the sustainability of China’s automotive energy system: the transportation economy, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, security of energy supply, supply and demand matching of fuel types, and automotive industry leadership.