Small-sized, public-transport, electrified passenger transport vehicles in rural areas are beginning to change their names.

Recently, the Ministry of Transport issued and issued the "Guidance Opinions on Deepening Reforms and Accelerating the Transformation and Upgrading of Road Passenger Transport." It is proposed that in order to improve the level of rural public services for passenger transport, economic models for rural passenger transport should be promoted.

What are the differences between the needs of rural passenger transport and urban passenger transport? In recent years, what are the changes in the demand for passenger transport in rural areas?

The most important price

In the interview, the reporter learned that compared with urban passenger transport, rural passenger transport is more sensitive to passenger car prices, and most of them buy three or four line brand passenger cars. First of all, urban passenger transport is generally financed by the government and operated by state-owned public transport companies. The requirements for bus quality, attendance, and after-sales service are relatively high. However, many rural passenger transports are privately sponsored forms. The owner of the vehicle pays for a passenger bus to operate at his own expense. Each year, the company is affiliated with the company to pay a certain amount of management fees, and the operation is responsible for its own profits and losses. Second, the country’s “fuel subsidies” for rural passenger transport have been declining year by year. “In 2015, the number of vehicles dropped by about 25%, and in 2016 and 2017, they dropped by 40% and 50%, respectively. Now, fuel subsidies are very small.” Anxi Feng, Yutong Bus Sales Manager, told reporters. In addition, with the improvement of people’s living standards, the proportion of rural residents who own private cars is also getting higher and higher. Many people are driving private cars or carpooling with their neighbors, which makes the passenger flow of rural passengers continue to decline. Therefore, rural passenger transport is paying more attention to the sales price of passenger cars.

“The majority of rural passengers choose the front-mounted model of the engine,” said An Xifeng. The primary consideration for rural passenger transport is the price of the vehicle, and the comfort requirement is not very high. The engine front-end model is much cheaper than the rear model. Yao Chunlai, Higer Bus Sales Manager, also stated that the cost performance of vehicles used in rural passenger transport is high. He said: “With urban passengers with good road conditions and roads, which emphasize comfort, rural passenger traffic is complex and the roads are relatively short. In particular, in some mountainous areas in the southwest and central China, there are many curves and some passengers bring some agricultural products. The inner floor is wear-resistant and dirt-resistant, and the fuel consumption of the vehicle is low.” Liu Peiqing, general manager of Chaolong Bus Marketing Co., told the reporter: “Some rural passengers require the use of iron pattern flooring, and the side panels are made of aluminum tread plates. Easy to clean."

"Rural passenger transport does not enjoy the benefits of public transport. The main consideration when choosing a car is cost. The requirements for the allocation of vehicles are also relatively low and there is no need for high allocation." Song Yaowei, sales manager of Yutong Bus, said, "Some rural passenger transport companies will buy 19 cars. Cars, because the 19-seat bus B can be opened, it is relatively easy to recruit drivers.” Yao Chunlai also told reporters: “There are many 19-seat minibuses in the rural passenger transport area without passengers. Our company is currently specializing in rural passenger transport. The front engine of the market."

Passenger traffic declines "Miniaturization" of vehicles

Affected by private cars and rides, passenger traffic in rural passenger transport has been declining and turnover has been declining. “Some rural passenger transport in some areas, such as Henan, has a large population. Although passenger traffic declines and benefits decline, but the line can be maintained. In some places, rural passenger traffic is seriously degraded. After one day of running, one day’s loss, private owners cannot afford it. Lines cannot. "Anxiong told reporters." In Inner Mongolia, however, the population density is low and many rural passenger transport lines are in the 'endangered' position. Some rural passenger transport companies do not run more than 20% of their routes."

Rural passengers usually start from the county to neighboring villages. The length of the line is generally within 100 kilometers, and some are only 30 to 40 kilometers. The popularization of private cars and free riders has a great impact on rural passenger transport. “More and more private cars are now available. Many people will carpool together. It may be possible to build a WeChat group in a village. Whoever wants to go to the county seat will say something in the group. A small car will carry a few people and leave.” An Xifeng The reporter said: "The number of rural passenger passengers has fallen so badly that they don't need more seats."

The reporter learned that in recent years, the models of rural passenger transport have always been miniaturized. In the past, 33-35-seaters were used, and the largest number of rural passenger cars is now no more than 30. "At present, in the area of ​​rural passenger transport, 19 to 29 seat models are used more," Liu Peiching told reporters. Yao Chunlai also stated that Hager is developing a small passenger car that is more suitable for rural passenger transport. “If you use a 30-seater bus, you may need to wait 15 minutes for a passenger to change to 30 minutes. With a small passenger car, the departure interval can be shortened and it is more convenient for passengers.” Xifeng said. In addition, in response to the decline in passenger traffic, some local governments have allowed the use of smaller vehicles, such as micro-buss, as rural passenger transport. On the one hand, the input cost is lower; on the other hand, the shift can be maintained at a relatively intensive level.

The government promotes reform to develop "urban and rural public transportation"

In the past, passenger transport in rural areas did not require buses with passengers in the standing area, and passenger cars with licensed passengers were generally used. With the changes in the rural passenger transport market, some local governments will support their transition from rural passenger transport to urban and rural public transport. “Now besides some rural areas that are far away from the city, we also use the bus to make rural passenger transport. Many urban-rural junctions use public transportation.” Yao Chunlai told reporters, “Rural passenger transport is used by local governments and public transportation in many areas. The company plans to bring together a certain amount of subsidy every year from local governments.” In some places, rural public transport is undergoing reforms. “For rural villages outside the city, we want to change some lines to 'urban and rural public transport' and use bus models that allow passengers to stand. "Anxifeng said.

Although the passenger traffic in rural areas has declined, the state and local governments will not allow them to fend for themselves, and the lines for rural passenger transportation must still be guaranteed. The passenger transport company is supervised by the state and there is GPS monitoring on the passenger car. The safety is higher. Relatively speaking, the safety of traveling and private cars is not high enough. With the integration and reform of rural passenger transport markets by various local governments, the rural passenger transport market is still vast. "We are optimistic about the future of the rural passenger transport market." An Xifeng told reporters, "The demand for front-engine models with 6 to 8 meters should be relatively large. We, as salespeople, will continue to dig deep into the county-level passenger transport market."

Optimistic about new energy, turning to pure electric

The reporter learned that under the general environment of promoting new energy buses across the country, rural passengers began to consider purchasing pure electric vehicles. “Especially in 2015, the subsidies were higher, and many rural passenger transport companies also wanted to try pure electric vehicles, such as 6.4 meters of pure electric buses.” Song Yaowei told reporters, “At that time, many county passenger customers consulted pure electric vehicles, and It tends to buy dozens of cars at a time.” On the one hand, due to lower electricity prices, the operating costs of pure electric vehicles will be relatively low; on the other hand, they also value the country’s operating subsidies for pure electric buses. "With the reform of some rural passenger transport as 'urban and rural public transport', these customers began to consider 8 meters of pure electric vehicles, because the 8-meter model has an operating subsidy of 60,000 yuan each year." An Xifeng told reporters.

With the subsidy retreat of new energy buses, the advantages of pure electric vehicles are not the same as those of diesel vehicles. Rural passenger transport has begun to rationally think about whether the use of pure electric vehicles, whether the construction of charging piles is perfect, and whether after-sale maintenance is the issue. “As new energy bus technology matures, and through the efforts of technical personnel and the guidance of national policies, the shift of rural passenger vehicles to new energy models is also a trend. Areas with developed economic conditions have been gradually updating and eliminating traditional short-distance bus.” Yao Spring came to introduce that “Our company's new energy buses started bulk operations in Huaxi and Fenghuang counties in Xiangxi in 2014. After more than two years of running-in and gradual improvement of supporting facilities, we now have good operating conditions.