Government procurement case of the Dongfeng single-cab sludge removal truck (blue license plate, 5 m³) in Lhasa: Analysis of winter high-altitude durability. At Lhasa’s elevation of 3,650 meters, winter temperatures can drop to -15°C. Sludge removal operations face not only frozen soil and ice layers but also impose stringent requirements on vehicle starting performance and hydraulic system stability. In late 2025, a municipal sanitation department launched a procurement project for blue-license-plate, 5-m³ Dongfeng single-cab sludge removal trucks, with a budget capped at approximately RMB 228,000. Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle’s China VI-compliant model was ultimately delivered. This article analyzes the total cost of ownership (TCO) over 5/8/10 years, major repair intervals, and depreciation characteristics of Chengli models under plateau conditions, based on this real-world case (referencing publicly disclosed tender information). Procurement Background and Key Requirements In 2025, the Urban Management Bureau of a district in Lhasa planned to procure a batch of blue-license-plate sludge removal trucks to address sludge clearance needs in aging urban drainage networks. Due to extreme winter cold, the procuring entity prioritized three critical criteria: freeze-resistant starting capability (ability to start on first attempt at -20°C), low-temperature hydraulic stability (adequate hydraulic oil fluidity), and a winter maintenance plan (to minimize failure rates). After multiple rounds of tendering, Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle—building upon the Dongfeng single-cab chassis—offered a blue-license-plate, 5-m³ sludge removal truck (model reference: CLW5070GSSD6, per official announcement parameters) and won the bid, delivering four units. Per local procurement practice, unit vehicle prices ranged between RMB 145,000–178,000 (tax-inclusive landed price in 2026; for reference, blue-license-plate 5-m³ water-sprinkler trucks cost RMB 112,000–131,000; sludge removal trucks incur higher costs due to added high-pressure flushing and vacuum suction systems). Chengli’s factory-direct sales model saved RMB 8,000–15,000 per unit by eliminating distributor markups, while local production in Suizhou enabled zero-inventory delivery—standard models shipped within 7–15 days, meeting the urgent schedule requirements of the Lhasa project. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis Over 5/8/10 Years As a high-frequency municipal operation vehicle, the TCO of a sludge removal truck must account for purchase price, fuel, insurance, maintenance, major repairs, and residual value. Below is an estimated per-unit cost based on operational data from four Chengli Dongfeng single-cab sludge removal trucks (blue license plate, 5 m³), combined with Chengli’s experience servicing over 500 municipal sanitation authorities (referencing publicly disclosed tender information). Years of Use | Purchase Cost (RMB 10,000) | Avg. Annual Fuel + Insurance (RMB 10,000) | Avg. Annual Maintenance + Minor Repairs (RMB 10,000) | Major Repair Cost (RMB 10,000) | Residual Value (RMB 10,000) | Total Cost of Ownership (RMB 10,000) ---|---|---|---|---|---|--- 5 years | 15.5 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 (Year 4) | 5.5 | ~21.9 8 years | 15.5 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 1.2 (Years 5 & 7) | 3.8 | ~31.6 10 years | 15.5 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 2.5 (Years 5, 8 & 10) | 2.2 | ~40.9 Note: Purchase cost uses the midpoint of RMB 155,000 (per 2026 tax-inclusive landed price range); fuel + insurance estimates factor in ~15% higher fuel consumption under Lhasa’s plateau operating conditions; maintenance includes winter antifreeze and hydraulic oil replacement; major repairs primarily target the hydraulic system, vacuum pump, and chassis.