Multiple Regions Are Advancing the Replacement of New Energy Bus Batteries
On November 13, the Tai’an Transportation Bureau in Shandong organized a meeting to advance the replacement of new energy buses and their power batteries across the city. The meeting communicated and interpreted the “Implementation Rules for Subsidies for the Replacement of New Energy City Buses and Power Batteries in Tai’an City,” among other things.
The meeting required all responsible units to prioritize the replacement of new energy buses and their power batteries, improve measures for advancement, and ensure that the replacement work is completed on time and with quality. Firstly, detailed work measures should be implemented. Faster actions, stronger efforts, and more practical measures should be taken to promote the implementation of replacement policies, ensuring that old city buses and power batteries are replaced as needed, and subsidies are issued promptly. Secondly, a problem-oriented approach should be adhered to. Focus should be placed on the problems faced during the replacement work, helping bus companies expand financing channels, and centrally organizing bus companies to connect with manufacturers to facilitate communication channels. Thirdly, research and supervision should be strengthened. In-depth visits and research should be conducted to actively address doubts and problems encountered by companies during the replacement process. Problems should be identified and resolved in a timely manner to ensure the completion of set goals and tasks.
According to a November 13 message from the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Transportation website, Zhenjiang City recently took the lead in the province by issuing subsidies for the replacement of power batteries in new energy city buses to urban bus companies. The first batch of 30 new energy buses received subsidies, with a total of 1.26 million yuan allocated.
The message stated that for each new energy city bus updated, an average subsidy of 80,000 yuan was provided, and for each power battery replaced, a subsidy of 42,000 yuan per bus was given. Since the implementation of the policy, a total of 25 new energy buses have been scrapped and replaced, and 175 buses have had their power batteries replaced across the city. This has improved the operational efficiency and reliability of buses and optimized the passenger travel experience.
In Chongyang County, Xianning City, Hubei Province, the battery replacement for the first batch of 34 new energy electric buses was recently completed and put into operation. According to policy requirements, each bus received a subsidy of 42,000 yuan for battery replacement, totaling 1.428 million yuan. According to local media reports, as the main type in the field of new energy buses, pure electric buses have significant advantages such as zero emissions, pollution-free, low noise, and high comfort, gradually becoming the green backbone of urban public transportation systems. However, as a key component of pure electric buses, power batteries naturally degrade and their performance gradually declines with increasing years of use, leading to an inability to meet bus operation demands. The replaced power batteries have higher energy density and longer range, which will significantly improve the operational efficiency and environmental performance of buses.
In Wenshang County, Jining City, Shandong Province, the county’s transportation bureau organized the replacement of power batteries for 347 new energy buses. According to a message from Dazhong Daily on October 31, Wenshang County began promoting the use of new energy buses in 2015 and was one of the first to achieve 100% new energy use for buses throughout the region. After years of operation, most of the new energy bus power batteries have experienced aging and reduced range, posing safety hazards. The State Council recently issued and implemented the “Urban Public Transportation Regulations,” releasing a series of significant benefits in terms of financial subsidies, fare formulation and adjustment, as well as the promotion and application of new technologies, new energy sources, and new equipment. Coupled with the subsidy policy of the Ministry of Transport for urban bus companies to update new energy buses and replace power batteries, this has brought new opportunities for the transformation and upgrading of the urban public transportation industry.
Public information shows that earlier, due to the expiration of the warranty period for new energy bus power batteries, some regions experienced partial bus suspensions.
For example, Jining Bus Jiaxiang Company in Shandong announced in September of this year that due to the expiration of the operating life and equipment updates for buses in Jiaxiang City, and with the approval of the county’s competent authority, bus routes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 201, and 202 in Jiaxiang City would be temporarily suspended from operation starting from September 26.
According to the subsequent response from the Jiaxiang County Transportation Bureau, the buses operated by Jiaxiang City were new energy pure electric buses purchased in 2015 and 2016, and have been in operation for 8 years. The warranty period for bus power batteries is eight years. According to the requirements of superior documents, the continued use of power batteries for new energy city buses beyond the warranty period poses a significant safety hazard. Currently, efforts are being actively coordinated to apply for the replacement of vehicle power batteries or the updating of vehicles that meet safety standards to continue operations and ensure the safety of public travel.
On November 5, the Zoucheng Transportation Bureau also responded to the suspension of some bus services, stating that due to the expiration of the 8-year warranty period for power batteries in some new energy buses in the city, safety hazards existed, and all buses beyond the warranty period were suspended, resulting in the temporary suspension of certain routes. Currently, bus companies have been supervised to actively connect with power battery manufacturers, and once the power batteries are replaced, the suspended bus routes will be promptly resumed for normal operation.
Additionally, when responding to suggestions from people’s representatives in October of this year, the Wangjiang County Transportation Bureau in Anqing City, Anhui Province, revealed that in 2023, 50 new energy buses of the Anqing Automobile Transportation Company’s Wangjiang City Bus Branch had significant safety hazards due to battery aging. The bureau required buses with safety hazards to be temporarily suspended from operation and asked the bus company to transfer vehicles from other regions to replace them. Due to time constraints and after multiple coordinations, the bus company urgently transferred 30 buses from Lujiang, Huaining, and Susong to replace them, resulting in a reduction in the number of buses on some routes and inconveniencing public travel. As of now, the bus company has raised funds from various sources and has replaced the batteries of 40 new energy buses, while transferring 9 new energy buses from other places to supplement transport capacity. The bus operation schedule has basically resumed, meeting the public’s travel needs.