On August 29, 2017, Taiyuan Urban Planning and Design Institute, the Secretariat of Clean Air Alliance of China (CAAC) and Shanxi Environmental Planning Institute jointly issued a report called "Analysis Taiyuan Electric Taxi Promotion Case and Suggestions for other cities" (here in after referred to as "Suggestions") in the fourth "Bluetech" Clean Air Media Workshop.. The Suggestions for the first time, systematically analyzes Taiyuan’s progress and experience on the promotion of electric vehicles, which will provide reference to other cities for their industrial structure reform and clean development.
Recent years, with the development trend of stringent air pollution control policy and long-term cleaner energy strategy, Shanxi is facing tremendous pressure on energy structure reforming. In order to tackle the challenge, the new energy vehicle promotion is designated as one of the key measures for Provincial industrial reforming strategy. As the capital city of Shanxi, Taiyuan’s impression was bounded as heavy coal producer with severe air pollution for years.
Following the national energy and industry structure reform trend, Taiyuan creatively replaced its all 8292 taxis by electric cars, which has become China’s and even world’s first city with its taxi fleet fully electrified by 2016 Thanks to this measure, there have been tremendous development in industries related to electric vehicle and its peripheral industries has developed significantly in Taiyuan. Six new energy vehicles projects have been established, including BYD, voyage, China Power etc., with a total investment of about 500 million RMB, numerous job opportunities were created accordingly. Only BYD Taiyuan new energy vehicle factory project is expected to create approximately 15 billion RMB revenue after production, not mention its peripheral business effect.
Taxi electricization also plays an important role on Taiyuan’s air quality improvement. While vehicle emission contributes 16% of total PM2.5 pollution in Taiyuan, and electric taxi fleet is estimated to reduce total emission of 807 ton for NOx, 3886 ton for CO, 850 ton for HC and 2.57 ton for PM2.5, in addition to significant PM10 and SO2 reduction effects. "Taxi fleet replacement can tremendously reduce vehicle emission especially in vehicle condense area like downtown,”Li Lianfei, the Senior Project Manager from CAAC said, “Which has significant health effect”.
The Suggestions indicated that the transformation of electric vehicles should give priority to the taxis and buses, as they have better environmental impacts and easier driven by government. It also suggested that effective management and enforcement mechanisms are essential. In the meantime, power facilities, the corresponding policy and management approaches should be planned in advance to ensure implementation.
"Taiyuan electric vehicle replacement has substantial benefits for air quality improvement, industrial restructure, employment opportunities, economic development and other positive aspects." Xie Hongxing, the Director of Clean Air Innovation Center said at the press conference, "There are more and more cities has taken part in the promotion of electric vehicles for different purposes, some for promoting municipal image, improving environment; some for the local industry development and economic growth. It took us 8 months to review and evaluate of the Taiyuan case, we are hoping to provide reference for other cities work.”
"The next decade will be the strategic opportunity for the development of renewed energy vehicles in China. In the 13th five-year plan, more provinces and cities would join the promotion of electric vehicle industry, China's electric vehicle will usher in a new round of rapid development. Taiyuan model has made a good example for others" Jia Feng, Director of CEEC, said in the comments.
"Bluetech" clean air media seminar is a series of activities, which is jointly organized by CEEC and the Secretariat of CAAC, to share ideas with media about China's major air pollution prevention and control issues. It aims to share advanced experience and policy trends about atmosphere to a wider audience through media participation, effectively promote China's air quality improvement, and create a good atmosphere of public opinion.
