Lawmakers' proposals troubleshoot NEV issues

Chinese authorities from various government departments have taken steps to address issues involving new energy vehicles after accepting suggestions from national lawmakers, aiming to meet the public's growing demand.

The Ministry of Transport, for instance, has included NEV mechanics in China's occupational classification database. It has also collaborated with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions to organize maintenance skills competitions to cultivate and select outstanding technicians.

These initiatives followed proposals from several deputies to the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, urging improvements in the management of NEVs.

Cao Jingfang, an NPC deputy from Shandong province, was among those advocating for changes. During the 14th NPC's second annual session in Beijing last year, she called for enhanced training for maintenance personnel and the creation of a public spare parts supply platform.

Cao, an employee of a power plant in Zouxian county, purchased an electric SUV in July 2018 and had a positive experience, which inspired some of her colleagues and friends to also buy NEVs. However, over time, many began complaining about having trouble finding spare parts, high repair costs and insurance claim issues.

Cao also encountered problems with her own car.

"I was elected by the people. I come from the people, and I should serve the people," she said. "It's my duty to help them voice and resolve their difficulties."

To identify the root causes, she visited several auto repair stations in her hometown, consulted mechanics and sought advice from insurance experts.

She found that repair skills for NEVs were more complex than for conventional cars and that maintenance information was relatively scarce. The high cost of key components, such as batteries and electric motors, along with a lack of compatible spare parts, further drove up repair expenses.

To address these concerns, she suggested vocational schools offer specialized courses and training while advocating for the public spare parts supply platform.

He Guanghua, an NPC deputy from Jiangsu province, focused on improving the management of charging facilities for NEVs.

"In some urban core areas, there was an oversupply of charging stations, while in others, charging spots were often occupied by nonelectric vehicles, leading to low utilization rates," said He, an employee of a State Grid power supply company in Wuxi.

"In older residential and suburban areas, charging coverage was insufficient. During holidays, highway service areas often faced charging shortages, resulting in long queues," she added.

Following discussions with He, the Ministry of Transport doubled the charging capacity at busy highway service areas during this year's Spring Festival holiday, according to Gao Bo, a ministry official.

"We added fast-charging and mobile charging facilities in those areas and improved information dissemination about these charging options," Gao said.

Additionally, the ministry has collaborated with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to encourage enterprises to build recycling networks and educate the public on reusing power batteries.

The NPC Standing Committee said it received 9,235 suggestions from lawmakers during the second session of the 14th NPC, reflecting their engagement in governance and decision-making.

The suggestions were forwarded to 213 relevant departments for review and action, with all lawmakers receiving feedback, the committee said.

To enhance efficiency, the NPC Standing Committee has launched an information platform for proposal submission, communication, handling, response and feedback.

"The platform makes it easier for deputies to submit and track their suggestions and improves the handling process," the committee said.

"It helps lawmakers better fulfill their duties and implement whole-process people's democracy."

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn