In May 2023, Hubei Shengda Automobile Co., Ltd. successfully delivered 50 new energy cold-chain special vehicles to Wuhan Cold-chain Logistics Co., Ltd. This cooperation is not only a significant step in meeting the growing demand for cold-chain transportation in the local market but also a milestone in the promotion of green logistics in the region. Before this cooperation, Wuhan Cold-chain Logistics Co., Ltd. had been using traditional fuel-powered cold-chain vehicles for a long time. However, with the continuous expansion of their business scope, covering more than 20 cities in Hubei Province and its surrounding areas, the drawbacks of traditional vehicles became increasingly prominent.
Cold-chain logistics has strict requirements for vehicle temperature control and reliability. Wuhan Cold-chain Logistics Co., Ltd. has been facing challenges such as inconsistent temperature control in long-distance transportation and high energy consumption of traditional vehicles. For example, in the summer of 2022, due to the unstable temperature control of the vehicles, a batch of imported vaccines worth more than 500,000 yuan was damaged during transportation, causing huge economic losses and a certain negative impact on the company's reputation. In addition, the fuel cost of traditional vehicles accounted for about 35% of the total operating cost, which greatly reduced the company's profit margin.
The new energy cold-chain special vehicles provided by Hubei Shengda are equipped with advanced temperature-control systems. The refrigerated compartments are made of high-quality insulating materials, which can maintain a stable temperature within the range of -18°C to 5°C, with a temperature fluctuation of ≤ ±0.3°C. This ensures the quality and safety of perishable goods such as fresh food and medical supplies during transportation. The temperature-control system uses intelligent sensors that can monitor the temperature inside the compartment in real-time and adjust the cooling capacity automatically. Even in extreme weather conditions, such as high temperatures above 40°C or low temperatures below -10°C, the system can still maintain the set temperature stably.
These vehicles also adopt new energy power systems, significantly reducing energy consumption and emissions compared to traditional fuel-powered vehicles. The battery capacity of each vehicle is 150kWh, which can support a driving range of up to 300 kilometers when fully charged, fully meeting the daily transportation needs of Wuhan Cold-chain Logistics Co., Ltd. According to actual operation data, the energy cost per kilometer of these new energy vehicles is only 0.8 yuan, while that of traditional fuel-powered vehicles is 2.5 yuan, a reduction of more than 60%. In terms of emissions, the new energy vehicles achieve zero emissions, which is of great significance for improving air quality in urban areas.
In addition, Hubei Shengda provides a complete after-sales service system, including 24-hour on-call maintenance, regular vehicle inspections, and quick replacement of wearing parts. The company has set up a special after-sales service team for Wuhan Cold-chain Logistics Co., Ltd., with 10 professional technicians who have more than 5 years of experience in cold-chain vehicle maintenance. They conduct regular inspections on the vehicles every month, including checking the battery performance, refrigeration system, and braking system. In case of any 故障，the after-sales team can arrive at the scene within 2 hours and solve the problem within 4 hours, ensuring that the vehicles can resume operation as soon as possible. This has effectively reduced the operating costs and downtime of Wuhan Cold-chain Logistics Co., Ltd.
Mr. Liu, the general manager of Wuhan Cold-chain Logistics Co., Ltd., said: "The cooperation with Hubei Shengda Automobile has greatly improved our cold-chain transportation efficiency and service quality. The new energy cold-chain vehicles not only meet our high-standard temperature-control requirements but also help us achieve the goal of green logistics. Their professional after-sales service also gives us peace of mind. In the first six months of using these vehicles, our transportation efficiency has increased by 20%, the damage rate of goods has decreased from 3% to 0.5%, and the operating cost has decreased by 25%. We plan to purchase another 100 new energy cold-chain vehicles from Hubei Shengda next year to expand our business scale."