New energy vehicle: crisis or rebirth?


The popularity of new energy technologies has given people in the oil shortage a glimmer of hope. With energy security and environmental protection becoming the two hottest topics in the world, major auto manufacturers have stepped up their new energy layout in the Chinese market. At the 5th Environmental Protection and Energy-saving Auto Show that Beijing just concluded, manufacturers at home and abroad have tried their best, exhibiting hundreds of hybrids and fuels.

The popularity of new energy technologies has given people in the oil shortage a glimmer of hope. With energy security and environmental protection becoming the two hottest topics in the world, major auto manufacturers have stepped up their new energy layout in the Chinese market.

At the 5th Environmental Protection and Energy-saving Auto Show that Beijing just concluded, domestic and foreign manufacturers have resorted to all kinds of solutions. A total of hundreds of environmentally-friendly, energy-saving vehicles such as hybrid vehicles, fuel cells, hydrogen power, and pure electric vehicles were exhibited. At the same time, the development and promotion of clean energy vehicles have also been promoted to an unprecedented height. The industry believes that this time the wave of new energy vehicles is not so much to seize the commanding heights of the future, it is better to say that China's new energy vehicles are turning their technology routes and technological policies.

On November 1, the National Development and Reform Commission once again adjusted the price of refined oil. The 93 oil on the Beijing market also rose by 0.44 yuan per liter. On the same day, the “Regulations on the Management of Production Access to New Energy Vehicles” promulgated by the National Development and Reform Commission was formally implemented, and the Ministry of Science and Technology also included “new clean energy vehicles” in the “Mid-term and Long-term Plan for National Scientific and Technological Development”, and will continue during the “Eleventh Five-Year Plan” period. Organize and implement major science and technology projects involving various clean energy vehicles.

In fact, many companies have already started to rush before the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology. On October 27th, GM CEO Wagner made a special trip to China and announced that he would invest 255 million U.S. dollars in China to build two new energy research centers. In addition, General Motors also announced in a high-profile that in the next five years, SAIC and SAIC will jointly invest US$5 million in Tsinghua University to build China's automotive energy technology R&D center. GM's move marks its stepping up its efforts to enter the field of clean energy vehicles in China.

In addition to General Motors, Toyota is also prepared for new energy sources. As the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle introduced into China, Prius has become a model for many companies to research hybrid power technology. "Toyota does not hesitate on cost, regardless of revenue, it can be seen in the determination of the clean energy market in the battle for the extraordinary," According to a domestic R & D of technical personnel, "Toyota has been committed to the development of low fuel consumption and clean and environmentally friendly In addition, Toyota is also actively preparing for the need to cope with future energy diversification and is trying to develop a transmission with low fuel consumption and excellent power performance."

"The development of new energy vehicles is the only opportunity for the Chinese auto industry to catch up with the developed countries in the 21st century." Some experts said that although the development of the Chinese automobile industry has entered a "blowout" trend since the beginning of the 21st century, many cars have high technology. Equipment and core technologies are still in the hands of a few developed countries. As a pillar industry, the relevant high-tech, precision, and cutting-edge technologies in China's auto industry are still scarce.

With the increasing shortage of petroleum resources, the production of drive systems with alternative functions has become a problem in today's automobile industry. The introduction and use of alternative energy vehicles have been promoted by some developed countries in the automotive industry, but they have not yet been developed to large scales. New energy vehicles that replace the existing fuel-driven systems, therefore, to catch up with the developed countries, the current development of new energy vehicles is the best opportunity.

At the 5th Beijing International Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Automobile Exhibition, auto companies such as SAIC, Chery, Geely, Dongfeng, Chang'an, JAC, and BYD are also taking actions to make a difference in the new energy vehicle market. FAW Car has exhibited a Pentium fuel-electric hybrid sedan, and confirmed that it will be launched in bulk by 2009; Dongfeng Motor has introduced a hybrid hybrid sedan developed on the platform of the Nissan Bluebird model; the hybrid vehicle of Changan The prototype has already appeared, and will have mass production capacity in 2008. BYD New Energy F6 dual-mode electric vehicle will also be officially listed in 2008...

Obviously, for all auto companies, the competition in the field of clean energy vehicles is directly related to the fate of the company's future development. It can be said that whoever takes the lead in breakthroughs in new energy vehicles will occupy the commanding heights of technology. Moreover, at the present time when new energy is in the ascendant, the exploration and achievements of its own new energy sources will easily attract the attention of the market and consumers, and become a major magic weapon to promote the sales of existing models.

However, the real problem is that although various auto companies continue to have new clean energy models available, most of them are “concept cars,” and if they are to be mass-produced, they still need to face many problems. So, is it possible to mass-produce these new clean energy models?

According to industry insiders, when faced with a dazzling array of new energy options, it is measured with a dynamic vision. Mercedes-Benz’s chief environmental officer once classified the internal combustion engine that burns hydrogen directly as a technology that “gives efforts 10 years ago.” The reason is that the production of hydrogen energy causes more carbon dioxide emissions than the current fuel, and the actual effect of burning hydrogen is only equivalent to one. Diesel engines. This argument is not entirely unreasonable. When an environmental protection new technology cannot obtain a series of technical cooperation, this technology can only be “showing”. However, if the hydrogen energy production process can achieve low pollution and combined with the fuel cell, then its feasibility is much greater. In the same way, in the face of hybrid vehicles, we need to pay more attention to battery production pollution, recycling, and other issues than how much gasoline can be saved.

Another problem is that due to the high R&D costs of new energy vehicles, such as Toyota Prius hybrids, it is impossible to carry out large-scale promotion because of the high prices. There is no doubt that for most of the domestic first-time buyers of cars, new energy cars are just a beautiful dream that can be far-fetched. It is reported that in the United States, the purchase of hybrid vehicles will be able to enjoy tax deductions. Consumers who purchase each hybrid vehicle can enjoy up to a $4,000 deduction, which is a temptation for many car buyers. In China, policy support for new energy vehicles is still not perfect.

Experts said that with the rapid economic growth in China, the energy and environmental problems caused by the expansion of the motor vehicle scale have become one of the bottlenecks constraining the sustainable development of the city. Therefore, energy-saving and environmentally friendly clean energy vehicles have received great attention from the whole society. "In the past 10 years, billions of yuan in investment, coupled with the mature experience of foreign companies, if the national new energy vehicle strategy has a clear direction from the outset, China's new energy automotive industry will not be just such a big thunder. A little rain," said a person in charge of a new energy vehicle project. He believes that the research and development of new energy vehicles is an opportunity for the rapid development of our auto industry. With good use, it is possible to obtain rebirth, and if it is only used for shows, it will face crises.