Utilitarian disease floods the field of new energy vehicles

As new energy vehicles rise to national strategies, development plans for new energy vehicles across the country are also in full swing. In addition to a number of strong and technologically-accumulated regions and auto companies, a number of enterprises and regions that do not have the full vehicle production capacity are also making high-profile advances into the field of new energy vehicles. However, in the development plans of new energy vehicles in various provinces and cities, the phenomenon of quick success and instant benefits is not uncommon, and even the phenomenon of violation of the project has appeared.

The Institute of Functional Materials of Northeast Normal University has made breakthroughs in the research of lithium iron phosphate batteries in recent years, effectively solving the current technical problems of poor performance of new energy vehicles. Under the background of the country's vigorous development of new energy vehicles, this technology has rapidly gained popularity. Since 2009, two companies have cooperated with the institute.

A year later, a scene that Professor Wang Rongshun, the head of the institute did not think of, happened. The two partners had to withdraw from the field of new energy vehicle batteries for a variety of reasons, causing the just-started battery industrialization project to be stranded. This made Wang Rongshun both sad and anxious.

"After the cooperation began, it was gradually discovered that the two companies have a common feature, that is, their original intention is not to promote this battery technology to industrialization, but to use the new energy car battery this piece of gold to enjoy the local government in the land. Preferential policies such as taxation and taxation will be withdrawn immediately after earning money.” Wang Rongshun said with emotion that the utilitarian behavior of this drilling policy has not only attacked the enthusiasm of scientific researchers, but also delayed the process of automobile battery industrialization.

Chen Bin, director of the Industry Coordination Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, believes that many of the companies currently engaged in new energy vehicle projects actually do not have R&D capabilities and do not have the core technology, but instead assemble production through outsourcing of key components. . The starting point of these companies is to cater to policies and market demands, which is not only contrary to the country's policy orientation, but also not conducive to the healthy development of the new energy automobile industry.

Some industry experts analyzed that the mystery of the big cakes competing for new energy vehicles lies in the fact that after the new energy automobile project starts, it can not only obtain special financial support, but also enjoy many preferential measures in terms of land acquisition and loans. Some of the weaker private car companies also regard new energy vehicles as "life-saving straws" because it is better for them to be included in large-scale automobile companies than relying on new energy vehicles to increase their self-help chips. In addition, for some companies, it is hoped that they will also take the opportunity to seek vehicle manufacturing qualifications. As a result, the high-end auto industry is quickly becoming an industry with low barriers to entry, low investment, and high profitability expectations.

“Not to mention large state-owned auto companies. It is our auto parts companies that have to keep a close eye on the trends of new energy vehicles. After all, it is very likely that in the future, if a company is not prepared for new energy vehicles as soon as possible. In the fierce competition, it is eliminated. Although the risk is certain, the project must also be on.” The head of an auto parts company in Changchun City, Jilin Province, told reporters.

In the survey, the reporter also discovered another symptom of “utilitarianism”: As local governments play a large role in the development of new energy vehicles, they are forming a situation where they are fighting each other. The "Ten Thousand Cities" project and the New Energy Vehicle Alliance are two typical examples.

Taking the "Ten Cities Thousands" project as an example, the first batch of new energy vehicles purchased by each pilot city will have a distinct "local color." The hybrid buses purchased by Beijing are from Beiqi Foton, the hybrid cars purchased by Chongqing are from Chang'an Group, and the hybrid buses purchased from Changchun and Dalian are from FAW Group. A representative of a domestic car company believes that the government’s enthusiasm for engaging in new energy vehicles is currently far greater than that of the auto companies. If “ten cities and thousands of vehicles” continue to follow the current practice, each model city will be prioritized by local interests. The purchase of local enterprise products is actually not conducive to the upgrading of domestic new energy vehicle technologies and the industrialization of new energy vehicles.

In 2009, China's new energy auto alliance has blossomed. Beijing New Energy Auto Industry Alliance, Chongqing Energy Conservation and New Energy Auto Industry Alliance, and Jilin New Energy Auto Industry Alliance have all been established by relying on local scientific research institutions and auto companies. However, at the same time as the alliance was established, new energy automobile research institutions throughout the country were gradually divided. Tsinghua University and Beijing Institute of Technology became the “brains” of Beijing's new energy vehicle development. Jilin University and Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry became the new energy of Jilin. The "think tank" for car development.

Some experts stated that under the situation of division of new energy automobile alliances in different regions, the new energy automobile industrial base will gradually move toward a single state. On the one hand, each alliance and base will inevitably center on the local major automobile companies, and when new energy projects are introduced, more More considerations are whether it can provide supporting services for the company; on the other hand, different car companies adopt different technology routes for R&D, and local protection acts add barriers to technological exchanges, which is not conducive to resource sharing and the overall development of new energy vehicles.