In the fertile land of Linfen, where coal and electricity abound, new energy heavy trucks are quietly emerging, attracting increasing attention from local users. The enthusiasm of local users for new energy heavy trucks is gradually shifting from a simple reliance on policy guidance to a deeper consideration of economic viability and market dynamics. At the core of this transformation lies the users' realization of the economic benefits of "electricity over gas," particularly evident in industries such as catering and logistics.
Moreover, with the rapid development of new energy heavy trucks, Linfen's electric heavy truck market is entering a period of explosive growth. The market background in Linfen is quite distinctive, boasting a robust foundation in heavy industries such as coal, power plants, and steel mills, creating a substantial demand for heavy truck transportation. Among the existing 40,000 heavy trucks, gas-powered vehicles dominate 80% of the market share, while the proportion of new energy heavy trucks, although relatively small, is growing at a rate close to 20%. Notably, despite diesel trucks being nearly extinct in this market, electric and hydrogen-powered heavy trucks are gaining increasing market recognition. Especially after the pandemic, policy support has also shifted towards favoring the use of new energy heavy trucks, fostering a relatively mild market promotion trend.
The new energy policy environment in Linfen is continuously improving. Since October of last year, local power plants have imposed new requirements on incoming heavy trucks, increasing the proportion of new energy vehicles from the original 20% to 60%. This policy shift has propelled Linfen's new energy heavy truck market into a rapid development phase, arriving slightly later compared to other provinces like Hebei Tangshan but brimming with potential.
In terms of brand competition, Linfen's new energy heavy truck market exhibits a clear clustering effect. Traditional heavy truck manufacturers like Sinotruk, Shaanxi Heavy Truck, and FAW occupy 80% of the market share. These companies apply their technology and expertise to the production of electric heavy trucks, endowing them with robust market competitiveness in terms of performance and safety. In contrast, emerging brands such as Sany, XCMG, and Yutong have relatively mediocre performance.
Linfen's unique terrain conditions further enhance the application advantages of electric heavy trucks. In the complex mountainous environment, the downhill energy recovery system of electric heavy trucks can effectively conserve energy consumption, improving operational efficiency for heavy trucks. Coupled with the demand for long-distance transportation in the surrounding areas, Linfen's electric heavy trucks are gradually replacing traditional gas-powered vehicles, becoming the mainstream in the market.
The characteristics of fleet user demands are also undergoing subtle changes. Many transportation companies, considering the longer lifecycle of electric heavy trucks and the downward trend in battery rental costs over the past two years, are increasingly inclined towards investments in electric heavy trucks. Simultaneously, the continuous improvement of charging and battery-swapping facilities provides robust support for the promotion of electric heavy trucks. Currently, Linfen has established over 30 charging piles and 15 battery-swapping stations, offering convenience for the operation of electric heavy trucks.
In terms of pricing, although Linfen's gas prices are relatively affordable, the operational costs of new energy electric heavy trucks are progressively decreasing. For instance, local electricity prices are relatively reasonable, and battery rental costs are also steadily declining. Under these circumstances, users have calculated that the economic benefits of electric heavy trucks significantly surpass those of traditional gas-powered vehicles, with some users achieving a 50% reduction in operational costs compared to using gas-powered vehicles.
In summary, Linfen's new energy heavy truck market is advancing towards a new stage under the combined influence of multiple factors, including policy support, user demand, operational environment, and technological progress. The increasing recognition of electric heavy trucks among users signifies a shift from policy-driven to market-driven, laying a solid foundation for the future development of electric heavy trucks. In the future, Linfen is poised to become a significant growth point in the new energy heavy truck market, attracting more investments and developments.
