In the northern Chinese city of Harbin, Wang Ming, a real estate agent, relies on buses to get to and from the city every day.
A few years ago, he witnessed the gradual shift of the city's public transport system from fuel vehicles to new energy buses, which became a part of his daily life.
Recently, however, he noticed that some new energy buses have been replaced back with fuel vehicles, which has aroused his curiosity.
One day, Wang Ming was talking to people from different industries at a real estate exhibition, and the topic was brought up again.
It was mentioned that new energy buses face other challenges in addition to the well-known problems.
An entrepreneur at the exhibition mentioned that there are hidden concerns about the insurance cost and claims processing of new energy vehicles.
Compared with traditional fuel vehicles, due to the particularity of technology and structure, insurance companies have a higher assessment of insurance costs and more complex claim procedures.
This has increased the operating costs of operators to a certain extent.
In addition, another expert working in the energy industry pointed out that the energy consumption and environmental impact of new energy buses throughout their life cycle are also a matter of concern.
Although NEVs reduce tailpipe emissions, the environmental burden and energy consumption that can arise from the process from manufacturing the battery to the final disposal of the battery cannot be ignored.
These factors have an impact on the overall evaluation and selection of new energy vehicles at the economic and environmental levels.
These discussions made Wang Ming realize that the promotion of new energy buses is not all smooth sailing.
From a broader economic perspective, the promotion of new energy vehicles is actually a typical "externality" problem.
In economics, externalities refer to the impact of an economic decision on a third party that is not directly reflected in market prices.
The promotion of new energy buses, although reducing tailpipe emissions, has generated additional "external costs" in terms of insurance costs, energy consumption and environmental impact.
These costs are not directly reflected in bus fares, but they affect the economic structure and environmental quality of the whole society.
Therefore, when we evaluate the value and future of new energy buses, we cannot limit ourselves to their direct environmental benefits.
We need to take a broader view of the economic and environmental externalities they generate throughout their life cycles.
Only in this way can we make a more comprehensive and in-depth judgment on the promotion of new energy vehicles.
This means that there should be a more comprehensive understanding when selecting and supporting new energy technologies.
It's important to focus not only on the immediate convenience and environmental benefits, but also on the long-term economic and environmental impacts it can bring.
Such an understanding will help us make more informed choices for social and environmental sustainability.
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