A study reveals real world operation of new energy heavy-duty trucks in China
China is the world largest new energy vehicles manufacturer and market now, especially for new energy commercial vehicles, comprising all-electric and fuel cell vehicles. China is flooding world market with very cost-competitive electric vehicles and also developing FCEV sector rapidly.
However, how are these new energy vehicles operating in China’s domestic market? A business study, conducted by Statistic Bureau of Ordos government, Inner Mongolia at the end of 2023 and released recently, reveals real world operation of new energy heavy-duty trucks in this area. Ordos is China’s largest coal and natural gas production base which produced 810 million ton coal in 2023, nearly 1/6 of China’s total.
By the end of 2023, Ordos hosted 1,183 all-electric and 151 FCEV heavy-duty trucks. The study covered 9 local companies operating these commercial vehicles by tele-survey and site visit. Several local regulatory agencies are also consulted to better enforcing relevant policies.
Generally, the study saw a couple of problems that new energy heavy-duty truck users are confronting, including uncertainty of replacement cost, lack of infrastructure, stranded FCEVs, as well as quite limited real operating range, here are the details: