On the eve of the imminent industrialization of passenger car new energy, the research and development of truck new energy has been blocked. Despite many years of experience, the industry is also extremely motivated to construct new energy sources for trucks.
"The reason is actually very simple, mainly because of the nature of new energy constraints." At this year's Shanghai International Auto Show, the industry used natural gas heavy trucks as an example to express to reporters. It is worth mentioning that natural gas heavy trucks are relatively mature and thoroughly studied by domestic truck companies in the field of new energy.
"First of all, natural gas trucks are too dependent on resources and are inconvenient to add fuel." Industry sources said that at present, there are few refueling stations for natural gas in China. "For long-distance trucks, the number of refueling stations is insufficient." It will not be able to meet the need for users to refuel quickly and easily. Therefore, the use of natural gas trucks is advantageous only in western regions where natural gas resources are abundant, such as Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan and Xinjiang."
"But even so, there are many inconveniences in the use of customers." Industry insiders told reporters that due to the limitation of the capacity of natural gas tanks, even the natural gas trucks on the Chinese market can only run 200 when they are adding enough gas. 300 kilometers away, but as a heavy truck, the general exercise mileage far exceeds this mileage, so the refueling site will directly restrict the sale of natural gas heavy trucks. "If you want to solve this problem, you need the overall arrangements of the relevant state agencies."
"Secondly, natural gas engines are weaker than diesel engines." It is understood that the major drawback of natural gas engines is that power cannot be significantly increased. "Insufficient power will inevitably limit the capacity. At present, Shaanxi Automobile has been leading the research on natural gas trucks, but its maximum power is only 184 kW. Compared with conventional diesel heavy trucks, the power is obviously weak. Therefore, heavy trucks are With the increasing trend of high power development, the power of natural gas trucks is difficult to meet the needs of high-speed and heavy-duty customers."
“This means that natural gas trucks are not only unsuitable for tractors that are used for long-distance transport, but they are not even ideal as model dump trucks for short- and medium-distance transport. In addition, another drawback of natural gas heavy trucks is that they Slow speed. At present, the maximum design speed is generally only about 80 kilometers, and it is difficult to meet the requirements of high speed and heavy load."
“The safety of natural gas tanks needs to be further improved.†Industry sources told reporters that although diesel and natural gas are flammable and explosive products, natural gas tanks are more prone to safety problems in the event of shocks and shocks. Obviously, how to improve the safety of natural gas tanks is also one of the major issues for heavy truck companies to solve.
However, using natural gas as fuel does bring many benefits to customers. "The most direct thing is to save money."
Compared with ordinary diesel-powered trucks, the use of natural gas trucks can be much less expensive than conventional diesel trucks. For every 100 kilometers traveled, natural gas heavy trucks save roughly 100 yuan in fuel costs over diesel trucks of the same configuration. According to a natural gas truck driving 150,000 kilometers per year, natural gas trucks can save fuel costs by 150,000 yuan per year compared to ordinary trucks. Of course, natural gas trucks not only have the benefit of saving money. From an environmental point of view, natural gas heavy trucks can significantly reduce harmful gas emissions from trucks.
"Compared with ordinary diesel vehicles, natural gas vehicles have a 90% reduction in carbon monoxide emissions, a 70% reduction in hydrocarbon emissions, and a 35% reduction in nitrogen and hydrogen emissions. This is for consumers in areas with high exhaust emission requirements. The natural gas engine used by natural gas trucks has a lower noise level than ordinary diesel engines, and therefore, from the perspective of corporate citizenship, or from the perspective of corporate sustainable development and profitability, companies are Must have research and development in this area." This person told reporters.
More importantly, although natural gas trucks are inherently inadequate, they are not insurmountable. With the continuous advancement of natural gas truck technology, “I believe that the application prospect of new energy heavy trucks represented by natural gas will remain very optimistic.†In an interview with this reporter, Yuan Hongming, general manager of Shaanxi Automobile Group, told reporters that Due to the above considerations, Shaanxi Automobile will be the first to open the curtain of building independent brands of green new energy at this year's Shanghai Auto Show. The first was the establishment of China's first "heavy-card new energy laboratory"; the second was the release of the first declaration in the heavy truck industry - "2009 Shanqi Heavy Truck Green Declaration."
“I hope to make the Heavy Truck New Energy Laboratory as a new platform and new starting point for the future development of Shaanxi Auto, relying on existing advantageous resources, relying on scientific development, independent innovation, and seizing the commanding heights of green new energy commercial vehicle technology, and creating a new green The new situation of the energy commercial vehicle industry will contribute to the great development of China's new energy vehicles.†When talking about the plan for the development of new energy vehicles in Shaanxi Auto Industry, Yuan Hongming told reporters, “Heavy Card New Energy Laboratory†The establishment of Shaanxi Auto is a major measure for the research work in the field of new energy heavy trucks. "We believe that Shaanxi Automobile is fully capable and fully responsible for taking on the major mission of "China's green and new energy heavy truck leader."
During the period from the end of the “Eleventh Five-Year Plan†period to the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan†period, Shaanxi Auto will focus on breakthroughs in key technologies based on the results of research and demonstration and application of major projects for key technologies of the “863†Plan for electric vehicles and key projects for clean vehicles. Utilizing some of the advanced technologies that companies have achieved so far and fully grasping the opportunities provided by the market to carry out the operation of new energy automobile industrialization. Formed on the basis of existing CNG (compressed natural gas) and LNG (liquefied natural gas) natural gas products, and gradually develop and improve new energy vehicles such as hybrid power, pure electric vehicles, fuel cells, and dimethyl ether, and form a new and mature generation. New energy product pattern. It is reported that through four years of efforts, Shaanxi Auto has accumulated rich R&D achievements in new energy vehicles in the area of ​​new energy vehicles, successfully developed non-CNG, LNG high-power heavy trucks, CNG, LNG passenger car chassis, and micro-electric vehicle axles and other new energy sources. Products, and gradually formed a pattern of industrialization. Among them, CNG and LNG heavy-duty trucks have a number of patented technologies that fill the gaps in China's natural gas heavy-duty truck products. The sales volume of the products is the first in the country and it is exported to foreign markets. “In addition, Shaanxi Automobile has made new breakthroughs in electric commercial vehicles and passenger car products. The electric dock low-speed tractors, hybrid city trucks, and DME vehicles have entered the R&D pilot stage.†Yuan Hongming told reporters.
The first is to continue to improve the current CNG, LNG product sequence and broaden the range of product spectrum. At the same time, according to the state of domestic technological development, it has developed electric vehicle products suitable for electric terminal tractors, hybrid garbage trucks, and hybrid non-road mining vehicles. Based on the development and perfection of hybrid and electric vehicle products, it will be promoted to military off-road vehicles and other markets that have the use conditions of electric vehicles. It is expected that by 2012, new energy products will account for more than 5% of the total heavy truck capacity of Shaanxi Automobile Group, and its market share will remain first in the country.
The second is to develop a variety of power buses that are of practical significance based on the chassis of the CNS, LNG, hybrid and electric buses of Auschut, especially short-distance travel and passenger buses for CNG and LNG engines. R&D of large-scale urban passenger vehicles ranging from 10 to 18 meters, and the expansion of the urban passenger car market with natural gas city buses as the highlights. Developed a 12-meter hybrid bus and a 12-meter pure electric bus. We will continue to accelerate the research and development of tandem hybrid vehicles, establish a technology platform for new energy vehicles, master core technologies, and develop new energy buses. It is expected that by 2012, new energy passenger car products will account for 50% of the total number of passenger cars of the Group and maintain its leading position in the industry.
The third is micro-electric vehicles and axle planning. Continue to increase the R&D and trial production of micro-electric vehicle models and enrich product lines. It is expected that by 2012, it will reach an annual output of 5,000 miniature electric vehicles and 60,000 miniature electric vehicle axles, which will lead the industry.