In recent years, new energy buses have flourished in many parts of China and are regarded as an important part of urban green transportation. However, the latest reports reveal an unexpected phenomenon: new energy buses in many places are being replaced with traditional fuel vehicles. This shift has not only aroused public concern, but also exposed the deep-seated problems in the development of new energy vehicles. What exactly caused this change?What is the reason behind it?
The rise of new energy buses began with the promotion of clean energy and sustainable urban transportation. Since 2015, China has issued a series of policies to encourage the promotion and use of new energy vehicles, and buses, as an important part of public transportation, have naturally become the focus of promotion. At that time, major cities began to purchase electric buses on a large scale, and by the end of 2022, there were 70 buses in the country320,000 units, of which more than half are pure electric vehicles.
However, problems gradually emerged. First of all, the battery technology of electric vehicles around 2015 is not yet mature, the battery loss and attenuation are serious, and the cost of replacing the battery is high. For example, the electric buses of Huangshi Bus in Hubei Province have severe battery decay in the summer, and drivers are afraid to even turn on the air conditioner. Secondly, the safety of new energy vehicles has gradually become the focus of attention. Due to battery problems, electric vehicles have the risk of spontaneous combustion, especially in the hot weather in summer, and spontaneous combustion incidents of electric vehicles are frequent.
In addition, the termination of subsidies for new energy vehicles is also an important factor. In the initial promotion of new energy vehicles, the high subsidy provided by ** is a big incentive. However, with the gradual reduction or even cancellation of subsidies, the economic advantages of new energy buses are no longer obvious. At the same time, the procurement and operating costs of new energy buses are higher than those of fuel buses, and the economic pressure is huge for bus companies that mainly rely on state subsidies to operate.
Faced with a series of problems such as immature battery technology, high cost, and potential safety hazards, the actual operation of new energy buses has encountered severe challenges. First of all, the high cost of battery replacement places a huge financial burden on bus companies. Secondly, the endurance problem of new energy buses is also very serious. Due to the degradation of the battery and the degradation of battery performance in the low temperature environment, especially in the northern region, the actual endurance of new energy buses is much lower than the theoretical value.
Security issues should not be overlooked. The battery safety of new energy vehicles has always been the focus of the industry. Spontaneous battery combustion incidents are frequent, increasing public concerns about the safety of new energy buses. In addition, the intelligent and comfortable advantages of new energy vehicles are not significant in bus operation, and these additional functions increase the cost of the vehicle.
In the face of various difficulties, new energy buses in many places are forced to change back to fuel vehicles, which is not only a challenge to the development of new energy vehicles, but also a deep reflection on the entire industry. The problem of new energy buses reflects that the new energy vehicle industry needs to be improved in terms of technology, cost, and safety. Although new energy vehicles have obvious advantages in reducing pollution and improving energy efficiency, these key issues still need to be solved in practice.
This phenomenon also reminds us that the comprehensive promotion of new energy vehicles is not an overnight process. It needs to take into account the specifics of different regions, such as climate, economic conditions, etc., as well as comprehensive trade-offs in terms of technology maturity, cost-effectiveness, and security. While promoting the development of new energy vehicles, it is also necessary to maintain the rational use of traditional fuel vehicles to ensure the diversification and sustainability of the public transportation system.
Although the phenomenon of new energy buses switching back to fuel vehicles may seem like a setback in the short term, it actually provides us with important food for thought. The development of new energy vehicles should not only pursue technological innovation, but also consider the economy, safety and sustainability in practical applications. In this process, the parallel development of traditional fuel vehicles and new energy vehicles may be a feasible transition plan. In the future, we expect to see a more mature, balanced and sustainable transportation system, in which new energy vehicles and traditional combustion vehicles will play an important role together.
The twists and turns of new energy buses actually reveal important issues on the road to the development of new energy vehicles: the maturity of technology, economic affordability and safety assurance. Under the dual role of policy promotion and market demand, the future development of new energy vehicles inevitably needs to go through a process from trial and error to perfection. In this process, diversified powertrain choices and flexible coping strategies have become the key to achieving sustainable development.
Although the phenomenon of new energy buses replacing fuel vehicles reflects the shortcomings of new energy vehicles in some aspects, it does not mean that the future of new energy vehicles is bleak. On the contrary, it is an important learning Xi and adjustment opportunity. With the continuous advancement of technology, especially breakthroughs in battery technology, safety performance and cost control, new energy vehicles are still expected to achieve wider applications in the future.
* and businesses play a key role in this process. **It is necessary to provide a stable environment for the development of new energy vehicles by formulating reasonable policies and standards. At the same time, enterprises should increase R&D investment in key areas such as battery technology and safety performance improvement to promote the overall progress of the new energy vehicle industry.
The phenomenon of new energy buses replacing fuel vehicles is an important reflection point in the development of new energy vehicles. It reminds us that the development of new energy vehicles is not only a technical or policy issue, but also a system engineering, which needs to consider many factors such as technology, economy, and safety. In the future, we should expect a more mature and balanced new energy vehicle market. The parallel development of new energy vehicles and traditional fuel vehicles will jointly build a more efficient, environmentally friendly and safe transportation system, and contribute to the realization of green and sustainable future transportation.