As with everything else these days, China will beat the U.S. market out when it comes to electric vehicles.

China is likely to become the world’s largest market for plug-in electric vehicles thanks to a $14.7 billion government investment on all-electric vehicles and infrastructure.

Don’t worry though, the U.S. will lead hybrid sales with 2.3 million cars sold by 2015, versus China’s 850,000, a Pike Research study indicated.

Even though the Obama government has been spearheading initiatives in Michigan to support the domestic EV market, with over $2.5 billion in incentives for battery makers, consumer purchases, and for charging infrastructure, China still seems to have a larger pot when it comes to subsidies and infrastructure for charging stations.

The Chinese government would like to add 5 million alternative fuel vehicles on its roads by 2020. And the Pike Research projects that between 2010 and 2015, China will have 1.85 million hybrids and EVs sold.

Even though Obama has said he wants to see a million EVS on U.S. roads by 2015, we’ll lag behind slightly, with only 840,000 plug-ins.

Part of China’s growth comes from the fact that the subsidies will allow a larger part of first-time car buyers to enter the market, pushing the country’s EV sales. Also, in 2008 China imported 52 percent of its oil, making the transition to electric vehicles ever important for its independence from foreign oil. China is still developing its own infrastructure as a country, and building charging stations and smart grids into the foray becomes easier — versus the U.S. that has to alter existing set-ups.

Via Hybrid Cars