Recently, three major departments in Shandong Province – the Transport and Transportation Administration, the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and the Science and Technology Administration – jointly announced a new policy, "Announcement on the Temporary Exclusion of Highway Tolls for Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles".
This measure, which will be implemented from March 1, 2024, is designed for hydrogen vehicles equipped with ETC systems on the province's highways, making their passage on the highways completely free. This policy is valid for two years, after which it will be adjusted appropriately according to the effect of its implementation.
Speaking of which, this was originally a good policy, but curious netizens checked it on the Internet. Burst into tears in an instant! It's because you can't eat the grapes.
First, let's take a closer look at the pricing of hydrogen vehicles currently on the market:
At present, for ordinary consumers, the lowest-priced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle on the market is the domestically produced dark blue SL03 hydrogen energy version, which has a market price of 69990,000 RMB.
In the field of hydrogen energy vehicles, Toyota's core product is the Toyota Mirai, which is priced at 74800,000 RMB.
In addition, the MAXUS MIFA hydrogen version launched by SAIC Maxus has a ** of 79380,000 yuan, which is also one of the hydrogen energy vehicle options on the market.
In the face of luxury cars with seven or eight hundred thousand yuan, how do ordinary people consume? What is the significance of this policy?
Aside from the high price of the car itself, the follow-up charging problem is also a topic of concern for the majority of consumers.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are seen as a great leap forward in the future of transportation, and their environmental advantages are more significant than traditional pure electric vehicles. These cars emit only water vapor and do not release carbon dioxide or other harmful gases when they are in operation, thus having a potential advantage in reducing environmental pollution. Theoretically, the energy conversion efficiency of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is as high as 80%-90%, although the actual efficiency may be lower than the theoretical value due to a variety of factors.
In addition, the refueling process for hydrogen-fueled vehicles is fast and convenient, taking only 3 to 5 minutes to complete, significantly reducing the time required to charge electric vehicles. Its range is on par with that of a car running on fossil fuels, meaning that it is not limited by range in everyday use.
Despite the many advantages of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, their adoption has not been easy. The main obstacle is that it is difficult to achieve large-scale industrialization and cost reduction.
Shandong Province's recently introduced policy of waiving highway tolls for hydrogen-powered vehicles, while forward-looking, has limited impact for most consumers. There are two main problems: first, the high price of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles; Second, there is a serious shortage of hydrogen refueling stations. These two major problems have become key obstacles that limit the popularization and promotion of hydrogen energy vehicles.
In addition to the high price of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which makes them unattainable for the majority of ordinary consumers, the distribution density of hydrogen refueling stations is also extremely limited.
It is reported that there are less than 100 hydrogen refueling stations in Shandong Province. Although the relevant authorities are trying to speed up the pace of construction, for most users, the preferential policy of free passage on the highway cannot solve the hydrogen refueling problems that may be encountered in long-distance travel, especially the difficulty of ensuring that convenient hydrogen refueling facilities can be found near the destination.
As a result, the policy has limited practical appeal to the average consumer and is likely to have a more significant impact on the commercial transport sector. For example, if long-distance passenger and heavy freight vehicles can switch to hydrogen fuel, this will significantly reduce operating costs and improve transport efficiency, given that these vehicles tend to run along fixed routes and hydrogen refueling stations may already be located or planned at the origin and end points.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles are a representative of clean energy vehicles, although they show great potential and advantages in terms of environmental protection and energy efficiency. It provides a feasible path to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in the transportation sector.
Theoretically, it provides a more efficient and convenient solution for modern transportation. However, the high cost of acquisition and the lack of hydrogen refueling infrastructure are still the main obstacles limiting its widespread adoption and application.
Shandong Province's policy attempt to exempt hydrogen vehicles from highway tolls shows a positive attitude towards promoting the development of clean energy vehicles, but its actual appeal to ordinary consumers is limited.
The scarcity of hydrogen refueling stations and the high cost of vehicles have seen the policy more as an exploration of future possibilities than a comprehensive solution for the present.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles represent a direction for future automotive technology, but more needs to be done to reduce costs and expand hydrogen refueling networks to achieve their widespread application. In the future, with technological advancement and policy support, hydrogen-powered vehicles are expected to play a more important role on a global scale.
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