For over the years of reform and opening-up, China's national economy has been rapid development, but also a lot of cost, especially to the environment pollution and destruction of nature, with the domestic and international the public is becoming more and more attention to environmental protection, the relevant state environmental protection policy and the implementation of the measures for energy conservation and emissions reduction, users and market will be more and more demand for tank truck, Especially in the new energy consumption and cost control.In this kind of environment protection situation and competition increasingly fierce market conditions, how to develop and apply the new special tank vehicle to open up new market, has become a problem to all the tank truck production enterprises. The following author on the current situation of the development of China's special tank type vehicle for a simple analysis, combined with the national macroeconomic policies, the future of new material tank type special vehicle advantages and characteristics and development prospects.

 

I. The current situation of the development of China's tank trucks

 

As an important logistics equipment, tank truck is widely used in automobile transportation industry. With the increase of investment in transportation construction in China, the development of logistics industry is getting faster and faster. The development of special vehicles in China provides great opportunities. The professional characteristics of tank special vehicle, especially the function of special operation, has been accepted by various industries and fields, and plays an important role in the development of national economy and society.

At first, the tank truck showed a trend of rapid development. Since 2011, the proportion of its sales in the overall proportion of special vehicles has declined, which is inseparable from the national economic environment.

While seeing the achievements of domestic tank vehicles, we should also note that there are still some problems to be solved in the development of tank vehicles in China. Specifically, there are the following aspects:

 

1. Lack of independent development ability for high-end products

 

At present, the domestic total mass of 30T, power 224KW (300PS) below the dump truck, van truck, tank truck, semi-trailer tractors and other transport special vehicle chassis can basically meet the market supply, but, Some of the higher technical content, more complex structural requirements, batch small operation class special vehicle chassis such as more than 8 meters of concrete mixing truck, large concrete pump truck, 224KW more than semi-trailer tractor, more than 40T crane truck, large fire truck chassis has a small supply and quality is not high. Like aircraft tractors, tank vehicles and other special requirements of some special vehicle chassis, the current basic is blank, mainly rely on imports.

 

2. Laggard technology level, unbalanced product structure and uneven development

 

At present, the domestic tank vehicle from the perspective of the technology introduction, digestion and absorption, also made some progress, but compared by outside brands, there is still a big gap, can say is main or stay in imitation stage, homogeneity phenomenon is very common, special varieties is less, the same phenomenon is very serious. Performance in the lack of core technology, heavy, medium, light, high, medium, general, special, new proportion imbalance, most enterprises can only produce medium-sized ordinary special car, other types of special car production is still small and can be simple. High technology content, high added value, high reliability of domestic tank special vehicles are not enough, these have seriously affected the structural adjustment and industrial upgrading of China's tank special vehicles industry.

 

3. Key components cannot be produced independently

 

Up to now, domestic tank truck chassis is also very deficient. China's production of special vehicles, is still mostly the use of Dongfeng, liberation, Steyr, Iveco and other ordinary cargo (passenger) car chassis, after adjusting the wheelbase and other small changes for modification, not special car special chassis technical reserves; The production of most of the tank car is still the basic low technology content, low price of labor-intensive ordinary tank truck, such as low tonnage tanker, tanker semi-trailer, transport tank truck, etc. Even the advanced steyr series chassis produced by domestic manufacturers, its technology has been very backward in the world, in the international competition in a very passive position.

 

4. Restricted by the development level of relevant industries

 

China's tank type special vehicle special device of the key components of the overall level is not too high, such as hydraulic parts, pumps, valves, control instruments and so on has not reached a higher technical level, restricting the development and production of high-level special vehicle

 

5. Small industry scale and low market concentration

 

Generally speaking, special tank truck enterprises have performed well in the market in recent years, but small scale and weak technical force are still common problems in special purpose vehicle enterprises. There are dozens of enterprises producing the same kind of product, and one enterprise produces many kinds of products. In contrast with developed countries, there are at most three or five enterprises producing the same kind of product, and one enterprise only produces several kinds of products at most. Market concentration is not high, the production of special vehicle enterprises is not "special".

II. The development trend of special purpose tank vehicles in China

 

1. The development trend of high technology and high added value

 

As the market competition intensified, the domestic demographic dividend disappeared. With the advent of the era of low profit, the competitive advantage of quantity and price will gradually withdraw from the stage. It will be a new economic growth mode of China's tank truck industry to replace the previous low level capacity expansion with innovative technology to increase the added value and technical content of products.

 

2. The development trend of clean, energy saving and environmental protection

 

With the increasing attention of the country to environmental protection and energy saving and emission reduction targets, the products that can achieve the national environmental targets will have a broad market.

 

3. The development trend of lightweight

 

Due to the continuous rise of transportation costs, the urgent requirements of national energy conservation and emission reduction, and the impact of the absolute advantages of new materials and new technologies of foreign tank trucks, the lightweight of tank trucks is the only way for the development of China's automobile industry.

 

4. The development trend of heavy and multi-axis

 

With the rapid development of national economy and highway, the limitations of traditional trucking increasingly exposed, in order to reduce logistics costs, improve the efficiency of transportation, enhance the level of intensive degree and logistics technology and realize the goal of energy conservation and emissions reduction, heavy, multi-axis hang hang full and half transportation mode will become the future transport the new normal.

III. Aluminum alloy tank truck is the inevitable choice to achieve high-end, lightweight, energy saving and environmental protection

 

1. Aluminum alloy tank truck development status at home and abroad

 

Under the background of increasing global energy and environmental pressure, the pursuit of automobile lightweight has become the development trend of the automobile industry, and it is also the only way to promote the sustainable and healthy development of commercial vehicles in China. At present, the world's automotive enterprises are around energy saving, material saving, environmental protection, reduce costs and improve the power, economy, reliability, safety and comfort and other basic functions, to carry out new technology, new materials, new processes, new product research and development, the core is to achieve automotive lightweight.

 

There are mainly carbon steel and aluminum alloy materials used in the tank body of fuel tanker trailer. Aluminum alloy materials have been used in heavy freight vehicles for more than 80 years. The first aluminum tank trailer came out in 1950, and aluminum materials began to be applied on a large scale in the vehicle in the 1960s. Now, in Europe, the United States, Australia, Japan and other developed countries carbon steel tanker trailer has been completely eliminated, basically all aluminum alloy tanker trailer. In Europe and America, aluminum alloy is widely used in the automotive industry, especially for heavy-duty and special purpose vehicles, in order to achieve automotive lightweight. Aluminum alloy material has been widely used in commercial vehicles, especially in tank vehicles, which has accelerated the pace of commercial vehicles in Europe and North America.

 

In addition to a very few transportation of special chemicals, almost all tanks in Europe and the United States are made of aluminum alloy, the market share has reached more than 90%. In Japan, the annual increase of refined oil tanker about 800, 85% of the use of aluminum alloy material for production, the rest of the 15% stainless steel and carbon steel production. And in developing countries such as China, road transport in the tank trailer is still a carbon steel. According to the survey, in China, aluminum alloy in the whole tank truck market in the amount of less than 2%. Thus, aluminum alloy tank truck in China's development space is large, broad prospects.

The same tank truck, why China and developed countries in the material selection difference so big? It is mainly caused by the following factors:

(1) The price problem, domestic for aluminum alloy tank trailer is better than carbon steel tank economy and comprehensive benefits, and aluminum tank trailer on environmental protection, safety and other social benefits of the understanding is insufficient, many consumers only consider the initial price, but ignore the long-term economic benefits.

 

(2) Restricted by the level of economic development, China's transportation enterprises cannot afford the relatively high one-time investment in aluminum alloy tank trucks. In addition, the quality of aluminum produced by many enterprises is not up to standard and the strength is not enough. Especially the welding technology is not mature enough, and the lack of such technical personnel, high training cost, long cycle.

 

(3) Production equipment, plant environment requirements are particularly high, the need for manufacturers to invest a lot of money, thus limiting the pace of development of many small and medium-sized enterprises aluminum tank truck.

 

(4) The problem of material, material in the strength and elongation of foreign and there are some gaps, material cracking is a big problem.

 

(5) Some unreasonable laws and regulations, the national fixed dangerous goods transport vehicles must be forced to scrap 10 years, but also make dangerous goods transport enterprises are reluctant to purchase good performance, high price vehicles.

2. The advantages of aluminum alloy tank car and its feasibility analysis

 

(1) High safety

First,dangerous (explosive) products belong to flammable and explosive dangerous goods, so safety is an important indicator to consider the tank truck. Aluminum alloy tank car because of the upper weight is low, so the center of gravity is low, not easy to roll over, more safe. From the perspective of driving safety, the inertia of aluminum alloy tank truck in collision is small and the braking distance is reduced.

Second, non-combustible materials, no sparks, lower static electricity accumulation, the use of aluminum alloy tank, is conducive to the oil loading and unloading and transportation process generated in the static electricity conduction away in time, reduce the probability of accident.

Third, less damage to the road surface, the government has been hoping to reduce the cost of road maintenance.

Fourth, it can absorb the energy generated by the collision by deforming without being suddenly torn apart.

 

(2) Lower operating cost, light deadweight, high effective load and fast return on investment

Compared with carbon steel tank truck, aluminum alloy tank truck has lighter deadweight, which reduces fuel consumption and tire wear during transportation, thus reducing daily operation costs and maintenance costs. By reducing the body weight of the vehicle and increasing the payload, the same amount of cargo can be transported several fewer times.

 

(3) Good corrosion resistance and long service life

Strong corrosion resistance, 15-20 years is the typical service life of aluminum alloy tank truck. The surface of the aluminum tank truck will form a layer of dense alumina, effectively prevent the erosion of the atmosphere and moisture, and the tank truck will not pollute the oil because of rust. No need to paint or apply any protective layer, saving maintenance costs. Tank cleaning is easy and convenient, the surface can be kept bright and beautiful for a long time, which helps to improve the corporate image.

 

(4) The product has excellent performance and beautiful appearance

The tank is made of aluminum alloy profiles with good elongation and high strength. The use of warehouse technology can be compatible with a variety of materials storage and transportation. Using closed filling system, more than 1 times the efficiency of traditional loading and unloading. The research shows that 60% of the fuel consumption of the vehicle comes from the dead weight of the vehicle in the case of no load. For every 1T light vehicle, 0.6L of gasoline can be saved for every 10KM. With a weight loss of 4 tons, the economic benefits of fuel savings over the life cycle of the aluminum tank truck are very significant.

 

(5) Better fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions, more green environmental protection, in line with the national energy conservation and emission reduction policies, good economic and social benefits.

According to the research report of the European Aluminium Association, the vehicle mass has a positive change relationship with the fuel consumption per vehicle. For each 1T reduction in the total weight of a single vehicle, 0.6L of diesel fuel can be saved when the vehicle runs 100km. Take 45 cubic meters of aluminum alloy tank trailer as an example, it is about 3t less than carbon steel or stainless steel tank mass, according to half of the empty mileage.According to the provisions of China's road safety law, the total weight of the vehicle and cargo shall not exceed 55t.

 

Under the premise of stipulated total weight, in order to improve the total amount of transportation, we can always start from the light weight of vehicles, so as to increase its effective carrying capacity and obtain better economic benefits. From the perspective of increasing revenue, the use of aluminum alloy tanks, running vehicles than carbon steel pouring vehicles bearing about 3t more, it can be seen that the use of aluminum alloy tanks are very considerable economic benefits.

 

Similarly, according to the European Aluminum Association research report shows that the vehicle (life period) each use of 1kg aluminum alloy, carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by 28kg. In this way, if the aluminum alloy tank is used, the weight of the whole vehicle is reduced by 5t, and the total carbon dioxide emission can be reduced by 140t. The United States research shows that, in the European four standards, did not do kilometers of fuel consumption Y and body mass X of the relationship: Y=0.003X+3.3434, the mass of the car did not reduce 1000 kg, fuel consumption decreased by 7%-10%, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides emissions will also decline, the environment will be greatly improved, social benefits are obvious.

 

(6) High recovery value

A 5T finished aluminum alloy made of the tank, to the tank scrapped, according to the current price of aluminum in the international market, only the tank recovery is about 80,000 yuan.

To sum up, no matter from the economic benefit, safety, or from the environmental and social benefits, aluminum alloy tank has incomparable advantages.

To sum up, although on the aluminum tank truck production and sales in China is still in its infancy, there are still some institutional and technical obstacles, but in the context of national advocate low carbon, especially the new normal economy, motor vehicle emissions upgrade is assured, lightweight is China's auto industry and even the general trend of the global auto industry, The application of aluminum alloy as the preferred material of automobile lightweight in the tank makes the effect of tank truck lightweight obvious to all, and the economic, environmental and social benefits are very considerable. What can be boldly predicted is that the market demand of aluminum alloy tank trailer in the future is huge and the prospect is broad.

As a result, the domestic vehicle manufacturers should accurately grasp the international market, timely purchase or independent research and development with market segment targeted aluminium alloy material tank truck technology, completes the technical reserves, to cope with the future national policies and the change of the market, only in this way, when the opportunity came to a head, occupied the commanding heights of the market.