At the national call for energy conservation and emission reduction, domestic internal combustion engine manufactured have scrambled to increase gas engine production and sales. As China's earliest enterprise engaged in gas engine development, Yuchai has kept ahead in gas engine R & D, production and sale. Driven by constantly upgraded technologies, quality and after-sales services, Yuchai gas engines have sold well continuously in the market. In the first nine months of this year, Yuchai sold over 25,000 units, up over 73 percent year on year.

Yuchai begun to develop gas engine early in 1995. With the constant development of the domestic gas vehicle market, Yuchai has gradually launched its gas engines on the market, and now Yuchai gas engines cover seven series, YC6KN, YC6MKN, YC6LN, YC6GN, YC6JN, YC4GN and YC4DN with power ranging from 120hp to 440hp. These series can meet customers' power demands for heavy-duty, medium-duty and light-duty buses and trucks.

Using internationally advanced single point injection gas control system (ESI), featuring lean combustion control and oxidation catalysis after treatment, Yuchai gas engines have been up to national V emission standards and accomplished good fuel economy. Aiming at characteristics of gas such as slow combustion speed and high thermal load, Yuchai conducted in-depth researches and specialized development in such aspects as combustion system, cooling system, lubrication system, air management system and ignition system, thus boosting the reliability of gas engines. Besides, Yuchai has conducted all-round and adequate verification and assessment in such aspects as optimal design, three-high calibration, bench test and vehicle test, thus ensuring the market competitiveness of Yuchai national V gas engines.

Only market is the touchstone for product quality and customers' voice is the best interpretation of product performance. Wang Nanhui, manager of Beijing Public Transport Group, Xin'ao Branch said in an interview, "Low gas consumption and timely service are the key reasons for our choice of Yuchai LNG engines."

In an interview from chinabuses.com, Deng Wenbin, manager of Mianyang Bus Repair Plant, said, the average gas amount of a Yuchai engine saved is 1 cubic meter to 2 cubic meters per 100 kilometers. A vehicle at least covers over 100,000 kilometers a year, Mianyang's local gas price is roughly 4 yuan per cubic meter, if the average amount of saved gas is 1 cubic meter per 1000 kilometers, a vehicle can save the annual operating cost by at least 4,000 yuan for the company.

To assist in the popularization of C&C trucks carrying YC6MK engines, Yuchai Zhejiang Office arranged staff for field tests of YC6MK's gas consumption. Test results showed that the gas consumption of a C&C truck carrying YC6MK340N-40 engine and with a load capacity of 29 tons running from Ningbo's Beilun Port to downtown Yuyao was only 34.93 kilograms, nearly 3 kilograms lower than the gas consumption of competing products.

Besides the advantage of low gas consumption, perfect after-sales service is another important reason that Yuchai gas engines are recognized by customers. 80 percent of buses are powered by Yuchai engines, basically covering the key public transport markets. Bus operation has a prominent characteristic: it balances social benefit with economic benefit. Bus life is generally 6 to 8 years. Any suspension due to failure will not only cause economic loss to public transport companies and degrade their reputation, but also upset passengers. For these reasons, while taking engine quality into account, public transport companies paid special attention to the after-sales service response ability of engine manufacturers, and Yuchai's unique after-sales service network in the country is just Yuchai's sharp weapon for winning the market.

Yuchai gas engines have achieved brilliant results in the bus market, with the proportion of trucks powered by Yuchai gas engines on the increase. As Yuchai's large-horsepower heavy engine, YC6MK gas engine has an integral cylinder head, which can reduce shock and noise and boost comfort and reliability. Over the year since its launch, YCMK has been extensively recognized by the terminal market, vehicle plants, customers and distributors. Now YC6MK-powered trucks have outnumbered diesel engines powered by diesel engines.

With the booming of sales of Yuchai gas engines, Yuchai has stepped up production. Engine Plant 1 of Yuchai Machinery Co., Ltd. alone outputted 11,085 gas engines in the first eight months of this year, up 72.56 percent year on year.

(Yang Mingze)