Natural gas passenger car on the right track

On May 27th, at the “Development of a low-carbon economy and building an international tourism island” forum held in Haikou, Haikou City proposed to strive to achieve a public travel ratio of 25% and a clean energy utilization rate of over 95% in 2015. In addition, Xinjiang's first long-distance bus for natural gas was also put into use in the Shaya County on the northern margin of the Tarim Basin. It carried out long-distance passenger transportation between the local area and Urumqi, totaling 811.8 kilometers. After switching to natural gas, only a refueling of around 1,000 yuan is needed for a round trip, which can save more than 2,000 yuan in cost compared with fuel-based long-distance buses.

In the face of soaring oil prices, many road transportation companies have complained about the lack of profit, the profit margins have shrunk, and many lines have even reached the edge of loss-making shutdowns. In response to this, the trend of “oil to gas” for road passenger vehicles has become increasingly clear.

Gas station construction "Favored"

At present, the sales volume of natural gas highway passenger cars has a strong regional nature, because whether it can be widely promoted is mainly constrained by the construction of gas filling stations. Even in areas where natural gas is relatively abundant, the problem of gas filling is not optimistic because only natural gas does not have refueling stations.

Taking Shandong Province as an example, CNPC’s Shandong Liquefied Natural Gas project was started on September 10, 2010. Ordos natural gas imported from Sinopec has already entered Shandong, while natural gas pipelines from Yantai to Longkou are built by CNOOC, and natural gas resources are abundant. Gas stations are far from enough, especially LNG passenger car refueling stations.

In this regard, Li Tongsheng, Minister of the Brand Management Department of Zhongtong Bus told reporters that the issue has been noticed at the national level and a detailed plan for the construction of gas filling stations has been proposed for this issue. For example, in the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan", it is mentioned that coal, natural gas and coal-based liquid fuels should be developed in an orderly manner, industrialization should be promoted, and exploration and development of oil and natural gas should be intensified. Actively develop natural gas resources in the five comprehensive energy bases in Shanxi, Ordos Basin, Southwest China, and Xinjiang, speed up the construction of import and export pipelines in the northwest, northeast, southwest, and offshore, and coordinate the construction of natural gas import pipelines and liquefied natural gas receiving stations. “In the 12th Five-Year Plan period, the construction of natural gas filling stations and network management will definitely accelerate. From the current natural gas passenger car market, demand is increasing, and the amount of holdings is also increasing.” Li Shengsheng said.

Yuchao Xia, Deputy Minister of Yutong’s product management department, also stated that the key to the development of natural gas passenger vehicles is the adequacy of air supply.

The promotion conditions have matured. “Now all localities are building natural gas refueling stations. The coastal areas are mainly LNG. Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and other places are mainly CNG. Therefore, as long as adequate filling stations are built on long-distance bus routes, the operation is "No problem," said Yang Chaoxia. At present, CNPC and CNOOC companies are increasing the supply of natural gas and extending to inland areas. Cities such as Tianjin and Jiangsu have started to use natural gas buses widely.

“Right now natural gas prices save more than half of diesel prices.” Yang Zhaoxia believes that although natural gas will also have a price increase one day, due to the country’s emphasis on natural gas construction, there will be no problem of rising prices in the short term.

“Our natural gas buses are mainly sold to the southwest, northwest, and Shandong,” Li said. In order to meet the long-distance operation, companies will conduct overall research on the line before the line is opened. "For example, where to run to refuel, and whether there is a gas station in that area."

According to the data from the China Road Transport Association, it is expected that during the 12th Five-Year Plan period, the country will build 3,000 to 3,500 natural gas refueling stations and add 40 to 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas for vehicle natural gas. And the proportion of natural gas utilization in the energy consumption structure will increase from the current 3.9% to 8.3%.

Passenger car companies have made preparations. At present, the favorable conditions for the development of natural gas buses are gradually maturing, and the market is also showing signs of start-up. “We entered earlier, and the 12-meter natural gas highway bus is also Yutong to do it first.” Yang Zhaoxia believes that in view of the current state’s high importance on energy conservation and environmental protection, and the frequent increase in domestic oil prices, natural gas buses will have a better development in the future. space.

“Currently, natural gas buses are mainly concentrated on large-scale vehicles, whether they are road passenger cars or public transport vehicles.” Li Zhisheng said that from the perspective of enterprises, he is also willing to develop natural gas buses. First, the overall environment is conducive to the follow-up development of natural gas buses; Second, according to the provisions of the State Environmental Protection Administration, the national IV emission standards will be implemented on January 1, 2012, and passenger car costs and fuel costs will increase, which will be conducive to the development of natural gas buses. .

"So, if the company has already made product reserves and technological preparations, it will be able to take up a comparative advantage in the follow-up market development. If there is no technical reserve, it will be at a disadvantage in the follow-up competition." Li Shengsheng said that at present most domestic passenger cars Businesses have reserves in this area, only the number of product announcements. “Some companies have fewer natural gas bus announcements, and some companies have relatively complete natural gas product lines, covering 6 to 12 meters, and there will be more announcements.”