Beijing, May 5 (Zhongxin Net) -- Recently, the policy of restricting "old man music" on the road has once again attracted attention and discussion. For a long time, such electric three- and four-wheeled vehicles were often used by middle-aged and elderly people for short-distance transportation because of their convenience and simple procedures. At the same time, the security risks behind it also make its opponents numerous.
For "Old Man Le", should I go or stay? How to go and how to stay?
Photo courtesy of interviewee.
It is not necessarily the elderly who open the "old man's music"
In 2016, in order to facilitate his father to pick up his children to school, Li Xiang bought his father an "Old Man Le". He told Chinanews.com that he spent less than 45,100 yuan to buy "Old Man Le" a few years ago, and the fastest can drive to <> kilometers per hour, with a cruising range of about <> kilometers.
"I occasionally go out in 'Old Man's Music." Li Xiang bluntly said that he now prefers to drive "Old Man's Music" when he goes out than to drive. In his opinion, this is more convenient than other cars. "Just park and put it on the side of the road, and you won't be sticked or fined for parking indiscriminately." He said.
Chinanews.com learned that it is not necessarily the elderly who open the "old man's music".
"There are post-80s and post-90s, they often have children at home, this kind of car is convenient to take the family, and some are middle-aged people in their forties and fifties, who go out fishing and play by themselves, and some of them pick up children." A shopkeeper told Chinanews.com.
In the view of many respondents who have purchased Lao Lang Le, "Old Man Le" does not need a driver's license, does not have to worry about violating traffic rules, and does not need to pay road maintenance fees, insurance, etc. Some businesses also use "no driver's license, no license plate, low speed, easy to learn" as selling points, resulting in many consumers believing that driving "old man's music" is not subject to traffic regulations.
Recently, the Beijing traffic management department issued a document saying that the so-called "old-time walking car" is a word made up by the manufacturer, the vast majority of such vehicles belong to illegal electric three-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles, that is, produced without the permission of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, not listed in the "Road Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Products Announcement", vehicle performance does not meet motor vehicle safety technical standards, using electric power to drive three- and four-wheeled motor vehicles used to carry passengers or goods.
Photo by Wei Xianghui at the entrance of the campus
Many places plan to restrict the "old man" on the road
Recently, many places have issued relevant documents and policies to restrict "old man music" on the road. The Beijing Municipal Traffic Management Bureau stressed that from January 2024, 1, illegal electric three- and four-wheeled vehicles are not allowed to drive on the road, and are not allowed to park in public places such as roads, squares, and parking lots. Jiangsu also plans to legislate to make it clear that the production and sales of old-age walking cars will be strictly controlled.
After learning that "Old Man Le" was about to be banned, Ms. Zhang, who lives in Beijing, expressed great support. "Finally someone can come out and take care of it! These 'old men' often park indiscriminately, crowd charging piles, and block the roads in the community. There are also people who privately pull wires from their homes to charge, causing a hidden danger of fire. ”
According to data from the Beijing Municipal Public Security Traffic Management Bureau, in 2022, there were 131 illegal electric three- and four-wheeler traffic accidents in Beijing alone, with more than 2017 deaths. According to a statistic released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in 83, there were 1,8 low-speed electric vehicle traffic accidents in the country in five years, resulting in 18,6 deaths and <>,<> injuries.
Zhang Xiang, an analyst in the automotive industry, told China News Network that the manufacturers of "Old Man Le" are mainly township enterprises and even some rural workshops, there is no national standard, the quality is uneven, so the price is relatively cheap, the cheapest is 78,000 yuan, the expensive is 30,000 or 40,000 yuan. The industry as a whole is almost disorderly.
In 2017, Dong Yang, then head of the four-wheel low-speed electric vehicle standard drafting team and executive vice president of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said that how to formulate national standards for low-speed electric vehicles may be the most complex and difficult problem in China's auto industry in the eyes of some.
"Those who support low-speed electric vehicles believe that it is energy conservation and environmental protection, technological progress, and consideration of the travel needs of low-income people; Opponents argue that this is simply illegal production. And because this issue involves multi-department management, opinions are also different: some emphasize authority and want to act according to their own opinions; Some want to delegate power and are unwilling to increase the difficulty of management; Some are intended to develop, suggesting chaos first and then cure. ”
Dong Yang pointed out that the interests of the low-speed electric vehicle industry and enterprises should be subordinated to the interests of the overall situation. Poor management of driver's licenses, insurance and local government connivance are important factors, and abnormalities should not be regarded as normal.
Should "Old Man Le" go or stay?
The claim that the "old man" will no longer be happy is not new to this year.
As early as November 2018, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other six ministries and commissions issued the Notice on Strengthening the Management of Low-speed Electric Vehicles (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"), which clearly included old-age walking vehicles in the category of low-speed electric vehicles under supervision.
Since then, many car companies have tried to switch to the field of mini pure electric vehicles, in order to upgrade to a "regular army" to fill and seize the market gap, but the results are not satisfactory. For example, Reading Automobile Group Co., Ltd., known as "Old Man Le Yi Brother", has recently applied for bankruptcy reorganization to the People's Court of Changle County, Weifang City, Shandong Province. This has also become the epitome of the transformation of many low-speed electric vehicle companies.
The popular Reading low-speed electric vehicle. Photo by Wei Xianghui of China News Network
This year is already the last year of Beijing's transition management of electric three- and four-wheelers, and the issue of leaving the "old man" has also received more widespread attention.
Wang Junjin, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, suggested encouraging the use of low-cost, high-performance economic electric vehicles and accelerating the elimination of low-speed electric vehicles such as "Old Man Le". However, some experts pointed out that the price of "Old Man's Joy" is much lower than that of new energy vehicles, and does not require a driver's license. Whether consumers are willing to spend more money and whether they are willing to spend energy on driving tests are all questions to face.
"The elderly in the family are old, and it is unrealistic to get a driver's license, and basically they can't even pass the 'subject one' traffic examination." Li Xiang was very confused.
According to media reports, at present, Beijing has carried out the online delivery and recycling of illegal electric three- and four-wheeled vehicles. Some commentaries said that it is hoped that the dangers, hidden dangers and gray industrial chain once brought by "Old Man Le" can completely disappear with its ban, but hope that the convenience brought by "Old Man Le" to the elderly will not disappear, but appear in a safer and more compliant form. (End)