The subsidy policy that bothers the development of Supercapacitor is expected to usher in a turnaround

Absrtact: For the Super Capacitor bus, perhaps many readers have only one vague concept. Cheixian, chairman of the upper-middle car, this is the future development of new energy vehicles blue ocean. However, now the development of super capacitor bus has encountered bottlenecks, due to the country

For the super capacitor bus, perhaps many readers have only a vague concept of it. Cheixian, chairman of the upper-middle car, this is the future development of new energy vehicles blue ocean. However, the development of the Super Capacitor bus has encountered a "bottleneck", due to the adjustment of the state subsidy policy, subsidies than lithium battery new energy vehicles one-third of the Super Capacitor bus market share plummeted. Industry and experts called for the development of the opportunity to give the market, let the market decide who has a competitive advantage. In the future, will the super capacitor car usher in spring?

Because of the different subsidy level of super capacitor and lithium battery car, the development of super capacitor car lags behind in recent years. With the Treasury's investigation of the super capacitance bus, the industry believes that the subsidy policy that has plagued the development of supercapacitor cars is expected to usher in a turnaround.

At the end of January 2015, the Ministry of Finance, the Director of the Department of Construction and Hunan Provincial finance and other related leadership field visits Changsha State Rong New Energy Co., Ltd. Super Capacitor workshop, Hunan Middle-Upper Automobile Co., Ltd. Super capacitor bus and charging station. The Ministry of Finance's leadership has listened carefully to the company's request and advice on the promotion of new energy bus subsidy policy.

According to the people involved in the survey, the Ministry of Finance this visit is mainly to understand the development of China's super capacitor, technical level and the use of urban public transport, but also solicited the company's views on the subsidies of new energy vehicles.

Wang Jian, a professor at Chongqing Jiaotong University and chief editor of Bus and Bus yearbook, said in an interview with the Daily economic news reporter that the state should consider the issue of fairness and efficiency when formulating policies, whether advanced or backward should be decided by the market.

The controversy over technology is a long-standing

In the field of new energy vehicles, the technology dispute between super capacitor and lithium battery is long-standing.

As early as 2010, the Super Capacitor bus has been unveiled at the Shanghai World Expo. But because of low energy density, buses need to recharge almost every stop, which means that every bus station needs to be rebuilt. Once a sudden situation, too little power also greatly limits the mobility of the bus, so after the World Expo is rarely promoted.

However, with the technology of Super capacitor upgrading, super Capacitor bus began to usher in new life.

2014, at the sixth session of the International Battery Industry exhibition, Shanghai Olympic Technology Development Co., Ltd. showed a new type of super capacitor, energy density than ordinary super capacitance increased by more than 50%, and a slight reduction in power, more suitable for carrying on the bus, So that the original need to frequently recharge the super capacitor bus can run 20 kilometers a one-time.

Because of our country's super capacitor research and development started late, foreign to export China's super capacitor to carry out strict power restrictions and technology blockade.

In the face of foreign technology blockade, taking in the car as an example, after 16 years of independent research and development, successfully developed a super capacitor car energy management, high-power fast charge and discharge, motor drive and intelligent control complete technology system.

Cheixian, chairman of the automotive industry, briefed the daily economic news reporter, lithium battery charging about 8 hours can continue to drive 100~200 kilometers, super capacitor charging 3 minutes or so can continue to drive 20 kilometers, so in private cars, long-distance vehicles, lithium battery car has the advantage of continuous driving, "in the city bus, 24-hour cycle tractor, Super Capacitor car that is, more flexible. On the other hand, the Super capacitor bus has a low cost, low operating cost, puncture does not explode, life-long need not to replace, biomass raw materials no two pollution and no need to build a charging field and other advantages. ”

November 2011, the Super Capacitor bus was approved in the Ministry of Industry new Energy vehicle model to promote the catalogue (the 28th batch), began to promote in more cities.

2013, the Hunan provincial government began to introduce the Super capacitor bus, in Changsha by the open area, Changsha County into operation of the third generation of 12 meters high-capacity high-power Super capacitor pure electric bus so far, more than 200 kilometers of operating mileage, more than 100 kilometers of lithium battery pure electric vehicles mileage, energy consumption for the 80% of lithium tram.

Cheixian said: "We have 10 super capacitor vehicles on a bus line, after six months, the bus companies require all to replace the super capacitor, this is the lithium battery car can not match." ”

Differential treatment of subsidy policy

However, with the introduction of the State subsidy policy, the Super capacitor bus from the vigorous development into striving to survive.

September 17, 2013, the Ministry of Finance and other four departments issued the "on the continuation of new energy vehicles to promote the promotion of the work of the notice" on the pure Electric bus application subsidy standard 500,000, super capacitor pure electric bus fixed subsidy of 150,000 yuan, the minimum subsidy level, the subsidy is less than the one-third of pure electric bus.

"Daily economic news" reporter noted that January 2009 "Ministry of Finance Ministry of Science and Technology to carry out energy-saving and new Energy vehicle demonstration and extension of the pilot work of the notice" does not distinguish the Super capacitor pure electric bus, but the implementation of pure electric bus uniform subsidy standards.

This is in 2013 four part of the notice of the Department, so that the super capacitor pure electric bus lost the unified subsidy treatment, that is, the use of super capacitor technology, pure electric bus, not treated as a pure electric bus.

December 30, 2014, the four ministerial committee jointly drafted the "2016-2020 new energy vehicles to promote the application of financial support policy plan" for social publicity, the draft continued the 2013-year plan, which, clear electric buses in accordance with the minimum energy consumption to subsidize 500,000 yuan/car, But the same as pure electric bus, the Super capacitor pure electric passenger car still adopt the lowest 150,000 yuan fixed subsidy standard.

Wang said that from the super capacitor and lithium battery pure electric vehicles, the different energy-saving electric products divided into one or two, three, this is contrary to the scientific principle, is contrary to the rules of the market.

In the early stage of the development of new energy automobile industry, because of the high investment, the risk, the imperfect consumption environment, the lack of competitive advantage and other factors, it is difficult to rely entirely on the market to develop and grow, and the formulation of fiscal policies such as tax and subsidy is international practice.

It is based on this, China has formed a set of supporting the new energy industry development policy system, including subsidies, taxes, government procurement and many other measures, covering research and development, consumption, ancillary facilities and other major links. Ceng, Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Construction, said in a recent speech at the China Electric Vehicle Hundred People's Forum, "to play a leading role in fiscal policy, accelerate the pace of industrialization of new energy vehicles." ”

Super Capacitor industry just started

For the market, whether a new energy vehicle can gain market recognition to occupy the market, a considerable part of the reason is its subsidy price, if the subsidy is high, consumers will naturally choose their products. Super Capacitor cars are facing the problem of market choice.

"When there was no subsidy, there was some promotion, and after subsidies, sales were shrinking." "Cheixian said that before and after 2013, the Super Capacitor bus is in full swing of the development stage, many bus companies want to buy super capacitor cars, because this can save a lot of costs, but four of the policy on the super capacitor market impact immediately," sales decline, Originally Changsha bus line continue to use Super capacitor car, but later nothing. ”

According to the current subsidy policy, the state and local subsidies generally standard 1:1, that is, the central subsidy of 500,000 yuan, local subsidy of 500,000 yuan, and the super capacitor bus can only subsidize 300,000 yuan.

"There is also an important reason is that because the state focused on subsidizing lithium-ion battery cars, which give local guidance is the country to support lithium batteries, resulting in local subsidies to the super capacitor less than 150,000 yuan, which is equivalent to super capacitor manufacturers suddenly more than 700,000 yuan cost, simply can not compete, and customer based on the cost of consideration naturally difficult to choose a super capacitor car, super capacitor car market share plummeted. ”

Cheixian that the domestic should develop a trial of various needs of the new energy vehicles, and policy should promote the diversification of scientific and technological innovation, the huge gap in subsidies, not conducive to the development of domestic super capacitor cars.

According to Wang Jian, the goal of policy development in Europe is zero emissions, "the effect is good competition, the government only needs to set strict standards." ”

According to the latest statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, as of the end of 2014, China's new energy vehicles into operation has more than 80,000 vehicles, including 2014 sales of 52,000 vehicles, 3 times times more than 2013, these new energy vehicles are mainly using lithium batteries, supercapacitors are just beginning.

On the other hand, the super capacitor began to develop rapidly in the world. The compound growth rate is expected to reach 21.3% in the next 5 years. Among them, the Chinese market's super capacitor demand reached 2.86 billion yuan, accounting for about 12.1% of the global market. At present, the car with super capacitor accounts for only about 10%, and about 60% still depend on imports.

Tsinghua University's innovative National Strategy research Group report that, if the current financial subsidies, just start China's super capacitor pure electric car industry is likely to hit, the loss of new energy vehicles this important application market, China's high-capacity high-power supercapacitors may also lose the Hard-won world leading edge.

noun explanation

Supercapacitors are a new type of capacitor based on the theory of the interfacial double layer proposed by Helmholtz, a German physicist. It is an electrochemical element, but in its energy storage process does not occur chemical reaction, the energy storage process is reversible, and because of this, the supercapacitor can be recharged and discharged hundreds of thousands of times.

Super Capacitor belongs to the third generation of green physical energy storage device, can be widely used in various types of vehicles, rail transit, aerospace, shipbuilding, petrochemical, wind, solar, smart grid and many other fields, but also high-power laser weapons and other defense military core technology of the important technical support, is one of the key technical heights for international technology and emerging industry competition.

Expert opinion

Dinghuan, chairman of China Renewable Energy Society: Super Capacitor should be more room for development

In the field of new energy vehicles, the technology dispute between super capacitor and lithium battery has never subsided. As early as 2010, the Super Capacitor bus has been unveiled at the Shanghai World Expo. But because of the low energy density, buses need to recharge almost every stop, which means that every bus station needs to be rebuilt.

After 5 years, especially after the frequent problem of lithium battery, the Super capacitor technology has been developed more mature, and its superiority has attracted people's attention. Recently, around the super capacitor in the past and present life and future application promotion, "Daily economic News" reporter (hereinafter referred to as NBD) interviewed the Chinese Renewable Energy Society chairman Dinghuan.

More potential power sources

NBD: What is the development history and current situation of the domestic super capacitor?

Dinghuan: Since the reform and opening-up, China began to study the super capacitor, but the direction of the study was electronic components, not from the power of this aspect.

Since the 90 's, some units have been used in electric vehicles, and the advantages of the current fast discharge are helpful to some power device applications. Domestic applications in electric vehicles, mainly in the car acceleration.

However, because of the limited technical level, such as capacitance capacity is only tens of thousands of Faraday, the battery can only run a few kilometers after charging, and then need to recharge.

In this case, we need to set up a lot of charging devices along the bus, Super capacitor charge is also relatively fast, passengers get off time can be charged well, and then we also suggest can be in a wider range of promotional demonstrations, and later they in the 2010 World Expo also conducted a test run.

Hunan Changsha recently in the development of super capacitor has reached a new height, currently as a demonstration of the capacity of the application can reach 150,000 Faraday, this super capacitor of public vehicles can travel for a maximum of 20 kilometers, charging time only need 3 minutes or so can be charged well.

NBD: Is the super capacitor more advantageous than the lithium-ion battery?

Dinghuan: Super Capacitor charging speed is much faster than lithium-ion batteries, compared to lithium-ion batteries, Super capacitor security is also better, there will be no explosion and fire problems, more suitable for use in the bus. Super Capacitor life is also relatively long, its life and the life of the car can be synchronized, unlike the current electric car three years or so need to replace all batteries.

Super Capacitor is more suitable for use in urban public transport vehicles, as well as airport ferry vehicles, aircraft tractors, large logistics station and port container transport and large logistics system station to short transport vehicles and other fields.

Policies should be treated equally

NBD: What is the development prospect of our super capacitor?

Dinghuan: Super Capacitor has been to expand the scope of application, and the stage of industrialization. And we have mastered a lot of core technology.

The basic raw material used for supercapacitors is activated carbon, a biomass material that is also in line with future development, manufacturing costs and raw material supplies are more reliable. Its comprehensive benefit is very good to the city public vehicle especially the bus, is a very great advancement direction.

NBD: At the policy level, does the State support the development of super capacitors again?

Dinghuan: Yes. At present, the super capacitor seems to have been in the policy support of alternative, four, the Ministry of the drafting of a policy for the draft, the super capacitor as a fast-charging bus, its subsidy is only 150,000 yuan, and the same pure electric lithium-ion battery bus subsidy is 500,000.

I think the super capacitor bus should be supported by the same policy as other electric vehicles.

Because All-electric cars can also be recharged quickly, they are all buses of the same size that can serve as a substitute for traditional energy vehicles, and fast charging should not be used as a dividing standard.

The industry's view may be more inclined to protect lithium-ion battery electric vehicles, which could be substituted if the super-capacitance buses enjoyed the same subsidy standards as other electric cars. From the perspective of protection industry to formulate policies should not be, innovation and development should be compared, who is good to use who.

From the development trajectory, the super capacitor and pure electric vehicles are consistent policy support, since 2008, the policy began to be differentiated treatment, when the Super capacitor vehicle is indeed immature, but has developed to the extent of today, should be more space for development.

Counselor of the State Council special researcher Xu Xiaodong: The choice of technology route to the market

On a global scale, the new energy vehicle is a product full of imagination.

It has been predicted that the batteries of traditional electric cars are obsolete, and the future of new cars powered by supercapacitors will be replaced. The advantage of the first is that the charge speed is super fast, regardless of how large capacity, as long as the current enough, a two seconds can be filled, is said to be full of "second speed", followed by the charge, repeated charging hundreds of thousands of times no problem, and energy does not decay.

The security of the Super capacitor, a new and unfamiliar product, has been questioned. Around such issues as super capacitor cars will not have great security risks, "Daily economic News" reporter (hereinafter referred to as NBD) interviewed the State Council counselor Room special researcher Xu Xiaodong.

Security Guaranteed

NBD: Can you introduce the basic condition of the super capacitor?

Xu Xiaodong: Super capacitor is as a storage means, capacitance is not like a general battery storage, the earliest use in the circuit, such as the current fluctuations, it can save a little, the circuit has fluctuations, you can make it smooth, improve the circuit. Super capacitance is also the effect, not like the average lithium battery through chemical reaction can be stored, it is through the physical phenomenon of the charge on both sides, and then stored.

Now the super capacitor develops quickly, especially the capacity is more and more big, the use scope is also more and more wide. For example, in a city bus, between the two stations is not too far, generally hundreds of meters to a few kilometers, full power is also very fast, less than a minute, to the next station when the guests continue to charge, I first know that there are applications in Shanghai, Tianjin heard also in use. Tianjin is a combination of capacitors and batteries, add a little voltage, can be kept for a long time, have a special purpose.

For charging devices that often start and stop repeatedly, super capacitor is a very useful technology, I have suggested to the Beijing authorities can use this technology in the subway, because the subway to start, a while to stop, when the start of a very large current, stop when to brake, if the electric brake, the current where to go, If you have a super capacitor, you can store it, you need a lot of current when you start it, and you can come back from the Super capacitor, which saves a lot of energy.

The same principle is in the elevator, a moment to start, a moment to stop, you can also put a large current, braking when the use of braking to save, the time to start reuse.

The state should restructure the subsidy policy

NBD: Is there a barrier to the wide use of super capacitor?

Xu Xiaodong: Super capacitor is not too complex things, is the problem of materials, the principle is not complex, the larger the area, the larger the capacitance, the greater the storage energy. At present, the direction of research is whether the area is small and the capacitance is larger.

NBD: What are the pros and cons of a super capacitor compared to a lithium battery?

Xu Xiaodong: I'm more bullish on super capacitors than lithium batteries. After all, lithium batteries are heavier, and those elements are more complex.

The advantages of super capacitor is embodied in: first, its raw materials can be done in accordance with the ecological requirements, such as not using minerals to do, the use of the process without pollution.

NBD: How should the state support the development of the super capacitor in this emerging thing?

Xu Xiaodong: The famous economist Wu once said in a meeting, the country to which technology, the route does not make too many choices, should give market, research unit to do.

I think in the super capacitor and lithium battery support, the state subsidy is necessary, how to pay is fastidious, in different links, subsidies different objects effect is not the same. At present, the subsidy policy of super capacitor and lithium battery is very different, which is debatable.