If you are provided with two gas engines: one engine consumes 33-34 liters of gas per 100 kilometers and another consumes 37-38 liters of gas, which one will you choose? In the case when the after-sales department of one enterprise can bring about the accessories and repair the gas engine on the same day, while for another enterprise, you have to wait for 15 days to get the accessories. Then, whose gas engine would you like to choose?

In an interview with Wang Nanhui, the Manager of Xinao Passenger Transport Branch of Beijing Public Transport Holdings, Ltd. ("BPT"), the journalist was asked with the foresaid two questions. The journalist answered, Definitely, I will choose the gas engine that is provided with low gas consumption and prompt service. Wang Nanhui said, This is the main reason why we chose Yuchai LNG engine.

Low operating cost versus obvious cost advantage

Different from general passenger transport enterprises, the public transport enterprises shall not only provide the citizens with efficient public service for their trips but also offer low ticket price, giving higher priority to social benefits. However, as a business entity, the public transport enterprises shall also take economic benefits into consideration. Confronted with the irreconcilable contradiction, the public transport enterprises are made to focus on cost conservation.

Wang Nanhui said: We have meticulously sorted out all the costs and we find that some cost manifests rigidity, for example: the salaries, welfares, etc. for drivers and conductors. This part cannot be saved. Otherwise, their enthusiasm will be frustrated. Therefore, we pay special attention to the conservation of office cost and vehicle operating cost.

In the office of Wang Nanhui, the journalist saw: the 6-7 m2 office is only provided with an office table, a bookcase and two single-seat sofas. The office seems slightly simple, but it is tidied up and the articles are placed neatly.

The operating cost of vehicles makes up a large portion. It is crucial to reduce the gas consumption per 100 kilometers. Wang Nanhui stressed particularly, Xinao Passenger Transport Branch has 338 LNG public buses altogether. Their engines are mainly from two brands. Therein, 90 vehicles are equipped with Yuchai gas engine. It is the same in term of running the business of vehicles, we are sure to compare the operating costs of gas engines of different brands.

Yin Hui, the technical team leader of Xinao No.8 Passenger Transport Company, said: We have made the comparison over more than one year and find that Yuchai gas engine consumes about 33-34 liters per 100 kilometers while the comparison brand consumes about 37-38 liters. The operating cost of Yuchai gas engine is low and its advantage is obvious.

It is introduced that the planned price of LNG for Beijing public transport enterprises is RMB 5.57/L (It fluctuates slightly in accordance with the market). Each public bus goes about 200 kilometers per day. Calculated on this basis, each public bus equipped with Yuchai gas engine can save RMB 46 per day. If the vehicle runs 330 days throughout the year, RMB 15,180 can be saved. If all are replaced with Yuchai gas engine, then, the cost saved will be a great fortune.

A penny saved is a penny earned. Last year, Xinao Passenger Transport purchased 90 sets of Foton BJ6123 C7 BTD public buses equipped with Yuchai gas engines. Low operating cost is the major factor. Said Wang Nanhui.

Prompt after-sales service does not affect vehicle scheduling.

It is inevitable that public buses will break down. If the after-sales service is not provided promptly, public transport enterprises will be badly affected.

Wang Nanhui said: If after-sales service is not provided promptly, the public transport enterprises will be affected mainly in three aspects: firstly, the operating cost of vehicles will rise dramatically; secondly, the personal income of drivers and conductors will be affected; thirdly, vehicle scheduling will become more difficult.

Wang Nanhui further said: In the case when one public bus breaks down and stops running, the cost for per 100 kilometer will be increased by RMB 1,000, which shall be offset by the operation of other vehicles. We once suffered a lot, because we had to wait very long for accessories when the gas engine of another international brand breaks down - they need to transport the accessories from the U.S.A., Brazil, etc. It takes 15 days by air, the cost will be increased by RMB 30,000; it takes 2 or 3 months by sea, more cost will be increased.

The after-sales service of Yuchai is considerably prompt. Basically, no operating cost for the vehicles will rise. Said Wang Nanhui, This is another major reason why we choose Yuchai gas engine.

When Wang Nanhui mentioned the promptness of the after-sales service of Yuchai, Yin Hui, worked in the first line of production and business, experienced too much on this aspect. He said: The after-sales service personnel of Yuchai will arrive at the site at any time. Sometimes, we called them after 10 oclock at night, they still dispatch the relevant personnel to arrive and give the maintenance. They repaired the engine at the night of the same day, without affecting the normal work of the next day.

Following that, Wang Nanhui explained the two subsequent influences. He said: The drivers are paid according to their driving distance. If the vehicles break down and stop running, their income will be directly affected. If the vehicles stop running for long time or break down frequently, the drivers will become quite dissatisfied. Besides, in the rush hour, the departure interval is very short, if one vehicle stops running, the vehicle scheduling will become more difficult.

The after-sales service of Yuchai arrives quite promptly. Last year, we purchased 90 sets of public buses equipped with Yuchai gas engines. No driver felt dissatisfied and no dispatcher grumbled for late after-sales service. To the contrary, drivers are willing to drive these vehicles. Said Wang Nanhui.

It was introduced that, to encourage the drivers to practice economy by themselves, public transport enterprises establish the award for conservation: RMB 2 will be awarded when one liter of oil or gas is saved. With low gas consumption, Yuchai gas engine is popular among the drivers.

Respect results from strength

The huge business opportunity of Beijing public transport market attracts the wide attention from both domestic and foreign enterprises. Particularly, the heavy air pollution in recent years drew special attention from the relevant authorities. They decided to spare no efforts to promote LNG public buses and new-energy public buses. It is said, Beijing will eliminate 3,300 diesel transit buses in 2013 and all the diesel transit buses will exit Beijing market by the end of 2018.

Provided with such a huge business opportunity, many an enterprise wants to enjoy one share of the benefits, not excluding many international well-known engine enterprises. In the rigid market competition comprising of many competitive opponents, Yuchai won the respect from BPT for its excellent-performance LNG gas engines.

Wang Nanhui said: Respect results from strength. Many enterprises want to share the business opportunity of Beijing public transport. Whether they indeed have the strength, they still need to be tested by practice. Yuchai gas engine is provided with not only low gas consumption and prompt after-sales service, but also high reliability during the driving.

It is said that the ignition coil and cylinder line of gas engine are likely to break down. One they break down, you have to replace them. Yin Hui said: The reliability of Yuchai gas engine is comparatively high, their ignition coil and cylinder line do not break down after driving 90,000 kilometers, for some, they even do not break down after driving 130,000 kilometers. However, the engines of other brands are often frequented by these problems.

The driving trait of transit buses is many pull-in, pull-out and making room for other vehicles. This requires the vehicle be provided with comparatively large torque. Yuchai gas engine will obtain the torque peak at the speed of about 1,400 turns / minute. Other vehicles in our vehicle team will obtain the torque peak at the speed of about 2,200 - 2,300 turns / minute. Obviously, Yuchai gas engine can obtain the large torque at low speed. Seeing from the operating characteristics of the vehicles, it is more suitable for Beijing public transport market. Said Yin Hui.

We collect the operation conditions of public buses everyday and we can easily notice the strengths of different enterprises. We respect Yuchai and also feel quite satisfied with the rapid progress of national brand automobile industry. We are willing to make our share of contribution to the development of national brand automobile industry. Wang Nanhui finally said.

(Source: www.ChinaBus.Info)