In cities, buses carry people's travel needs and are an important part of urban transportation. In recent years, the rise of new energy buses has been regarded as a symbol of technological innovation, however, there has recently been a phenomenon that new energy buses in many places have been changed back to fuel vehicles. What are the underlying reasons behind this shift?And how will it affect the planning and development of future transportation?This article will analyze these issues from different perspectives.
1. Changes in subsidy policies and high battery maintenance costs
One of the reasons why cities such as Hubei, Hebei, and Nanjing choose to replace new energy buses with fuel vehicles is that the subsidy policy has changed. In 2015, the battery technology of new energy buses was not mature enough, the battery attenuation was serious, and the replacement cost was high. For example, bus companies in the Huangshi area of Hubei Province are unable to turn on their air conditioners in the summer due to severe battery wear. In addition, the reduction of subsidy policies, coupled with high battery maintenance costs, has prompted new energy buses to switch to fuel vehicles.
2. Procurement cost differences
Compared with fuel buses of the same level, the procurement cost of new energy buses is higher. In an environment of tighter subsidy policies, this cost difference is even more significant. Therefore, from an economic point of view, fuel buses seem to be more advantageous in the short term.
3. Safety issues and battery life
In recent years, spontaneous combustion of new energy vehicles has occurred frequently, causing public concern about battery safety. In addition, the actual cruising range of new energy buses is often limited by battery capacity and vehicle load, which is particularly important in the field of public transportation that requires long-term operation and wide coverage. Especially in the low-temperature environment in the northern region, the deterioration of battery performance exacerbates the disadvantage of new energy buses. Relatively speaking, the performance of fuel vehicles in low temperature environments is more stable and the endurance is more reliable.
4. Differences in the purpose and needs of use
Buses are different from private cars in that they focus more on stability, durability, and cost-effectiveness. Although new energy buses have advantages in terms of intelligence and comfortable experience, these are not the main pursuits of buses. Therefore, under the current technology and cost conditions, fuel buses still occupy a place in the field of public transport.
The phenomenon of new energy buses switching to fuel vehicles does not mean the failure of new energy technology, but reflects the need to weigh costs and benefits in the field of public transportation under the current technical and economic conditions. In the future, with the advancement of technology and the reduction of costs, new energy buses are expected to show more advantages. At the same time, the coexistence of fuel vehicles and electric vehicles reflects the diversified trend of transportation development to meet the needs of different users and scenarios.
1. Balance environmental protection and economic sustainability
In the process of promoting the popularization of new energy vehicles, it is a difficult task to consider both environmental protection and economic sustainability. Policymakers need to fine-tune subsidy policies more granarily to ensure that NEVs receive adequate support and promote the development of related technologies and the reduction of costs. This involves balancing economic interests with long-term environmental responsibility.
2. Improvement of battery safety and mileage
The battery safety and range of new energy buses need to be faced by manufacturers and operators. Finding a more efficient and secure solution is key. At the same time, cities need to build infrastructure that is compatible with the spread of new energy vehicles, such as the layout and construction of charging stations.
3. Urban planning and management challenges
The process of switching from new energy buses to fuel vehicles has also exposed the challenges of urban planning and management. Urban transport management needs to balance efficient and environmentally friendly public transport systems with economic benefits and technical feasibility. In the future, buses may take a variety of energy forms to adapt to different environments and needs.
The phenomenon of new energy buses switching to fuel vehicles is not a failure of technology, but the result of trade-offs in the field of public transportation under the current technical and economic conditions. This shift reminds us that in the process of promoting the popularization of new energy vehicles, we need to pay attention to the maturity of the technology and the needs of practical application scenarios. With the advancement of technology and the reduction of costs, new energy buses are expected to show advantages in more fields. At the same time, the coexistence of fuel vehicles and new energy vehicles reflects the diversity of transportation development to meet the transportation needs of different environments and needs. Among the challenges, policymakers need to balance environmental protection and economic sustainability, manufacturers and operators need to improve battery safety and range, and cities need to adapt infrastructure and planning. It is only through the concerted efforts of all parties that we can promote sustainable transport and provide better transport services for cities and their residents.