Chinese automotive brand, Sunwin, has launched an ambitious plan that will see its bus production skyrocket from the current 2,500 per annum to more than 10,000 vehicles a year by 2016, General Manager Don Yu, has revealed.
With this marked increase in manufacturing output, Sunwin is expecting a continued reduction in production costs and capital investment, while at the same time, continue to utilize the latest in hybrid super-capacitor and pure electric power technologies to promote usage of clean energy powered electric buses.
While expressing the importance of new and renewable energy technologies in meeting the demands of a rapidly expanding Chinese urban population, many Chinese manufacturers have indicatedhybrid powered systems have a limited future in China and should be seen as a transitional technology towards pure electric and battery powered vehicles.
Sunwin is a 50/50 joint venture with Volvo China, and is headquartered in Shanghai.
Drawing fromlast year’s successful test case of the Shanghai World Expo and its advancement of super-capacitor use in China, the forthcoming bus and coach exhibition dubbed Busworld Asia 2011,is focused on displaying the latest in pure electric powered bus products through its E-Bus Pavilion at event, scheduled to take place at the Shanghai Automobile Exhibition Center in Beijing, from March 30 to April 1.
Recently, the Busworld Asia organizers invited top European transport reporter Hans Kuipers, who sought to learn the future of new energy powered drives in China. During the second day of Kuipers fact finding mission, the writer, together with the BW Asia team, visited the Ankai Automobile Corporation, where officials at the firm emphasized the important role that the Chinese central government is playing, in the advancement of cutting edge technologies in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas(LPG), Hydrogen fuel, Duel Fuel, Hybrid, and Pure Electric powered technologies.
“This support, from building government sponsored electric car charging stations across the country, to direct research grants and investment, is catapulting the Chinese industry ahead,” the officials said.
China’s new energy car-industry blueprint ready
According to the Shanghai-based Xinmin Evening Post late last year, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has worked out a blueprint for the nation’s new energy car industry over the next ten year period that will increase China’s production of electric cars, hybrid energy vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell cars and solar cars to some 15 million units by 2020.
Recently, Ankai Board ChairmanXiangfeng Wang echoed the finding of the report, saying that the prevention of energy shortages and environmental protection are keys to continued economic growth in China. Busworld Asia, located inside the Shanghai International Automobile City, is based at the center of this new research and development, with the Shanghai Vehicle Test Center, Tongji University’s College of Automotive Studies, the SAIC Motor Engineering Academy and the Clean Energy Motor Vehicle Engineering Center all next door neighbors.
With the Chinese government preparing to invest more than 100 billion yuan, or nearly 15 billion US dollars to subsidize the nation’s production and consumption of environmentally friendly cars between 2011 and 2020, Busworld Asia and Ankai say they are well positioned to take advantage of this eco-friendly current.
By focusing in particular on pure electric, hybrid, and fuel cell powered systems, Ankai is positioning itself as not only a leading Busworld Asia exhibitor, but as a pioneer in renewable and alternative energy solutions.The third day of Busworld Asia’s 2011 publicity campaign saw Hans Kupiers visiting Zhongtong Bus in Shandong Province. Established in 1958, making it one of the first such bus and coach companies established after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Zhong Tong produced just 800 buses in 1991. In 2010, in line with the growth of the overall Chinese industry, annual production reached more than 10,000 buses, with overseas exports in 2008 reaching the top spot in the domestic market.
Kuipers, as jury representative for Busworld Asia’s annual BAAV Asia Coach Week awards, was especially interested in the range of Chinese battery powered buses. According to Zhong Tong, the range of Chinese buses utilizing lithium ion batteries has reached 300-400 km, far exceeding the standards many European battery producers are manufacturing.
Continuing to advance new innovation and creativity in the new and renewable energy market for bus and coaches is one of the key focuses of Busworld Asia’s annual evaluative awards competition. With partnerships with Cummins, Allison, and many other international firms, Zhong Tong Bus is well positioned for continued growth. With the introduction of European model city buses in 2009, Zhong Tong will surely be paying attention to the upcoming Busworld Asia BAAV Asia Coach Week competition as a way to distinguish itself in an unfamiliar European market.
Local Chinese bus manufacturers seek global ties
Super-galvanised and stainless steel original body constructions are giving BLK Bonluck a reputation for quality above and beyond the completion. PHEV – hybrid electric (plug-in) technology, developed in cooperation with the Hong Kong Chinese University, are preparing BLK for the next level of competition in the alternate energy arena. Like many local Chinese manufacturers, BLK was affected by the global economic downturn, stopping production of electric bus exports in the US market from 2008-2010.
This year, following the overall recovery in the Chinese bus and coach manufacturing industry, plans are in the works for a new electric bus model to be introduced in the US.
Kuipers was especially interested in learning about plans in the works for two bus models awaiting approval in Budapest Hungary. While Australia has been the prime market for BLK exports, the journalist learned that an increasing focus of Bonluck and other Chinese bus producers are European and North American markets, which require different efficiency standards and the localization of product offering to suit local market needs. While traditionally focused on local market, companies such as BLK today are looking abroad to transform their companies into truly international players.
Kuipers noted during his visit to Chinese bus builders that international partnerships are still key to the future development of the Chinese bus manufacturing industry. After service quality has historically been weak in China, and Chinese manufacturers are now forming strategic alliances with pre-existing European service networks to address this weakness.
While impressed with recent innovations in fuel cell battery range, and the increasing adoption of European design and construction elements in Chinese buses, overseas branding still poses a significant challenge. Through the Busworld Global Alliance (headquartered in Europe) and Busworld Asia, Chinese bus and coach builders are offered an unparalleled sales and trade platform of international reach and stature. Next month, Busworld Asia will welcome a BAAV media delegation of some 20 bus and coach reporters from across the world.
To sign up for a free ticket before host organizer Busworld Asia’s March 15 deadline, visitors can go to:
www.busworldasia.com/english and click “want to visit”.
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