Zhengzhou Ford New Generation V348 Service Vehicle Government Procurement Case: In-Depth Analysis of Winning Proposal and Cost-Benefit Performance In 2024, a municipal sanitation department issued a public tender for a batch of service vehicles to support frontline road inspection, small equipment transportation, and emergency repairs. Following multiple rounds of technical evaluation and commercial negotiations, Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd. secured the contract and delivered Ford New Generation V348-based customized service vehicles. This article analyzes the case from perspectives including cost comparison between fuel-powered and battery-electric variants, operational scenario differences, charging infrastructure requirements, and Chengli’s tailored solutions—providing procurement entities with a practical decision-making reference. I. Case Background: Why Choose the Ford New Generation V348? The municipal sanitation department required service vehicles primarily for urban road inspections, small equipment transport, and emergency response operations. The tender document explicitly specified requirements including high load-carrying capacity, excellent maneuverability in urban environments, and low operating costs. The Ford New Generation V348 chassis—renowned for its proven technology, generous body-upfitting space, and superior fuel efficiency—emerged as a top recommendation among multiple suppliers. As one of China’s largest special-purpose vehicle manufacturers, Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle provided a comprehensive upfitting solution in this tender, covering cabin compartmentalization, optimized storage layout design, and electrical system integration. Ultimately, Chengli won the bid at an approximate unit price of RMB 250,000 (per publicly disclosed tender information), delivering 10 service vehicles, which are now actively deployed across multiple urban districts. II. Fuel-Powered vs. Battery-Electric Variant: Cost Comparison Analysis With the advancement of new-energy policies, some procurement entities are beginning to consider battery-electric service vehicles. To support informed decision-making, we compare the three-year total cost of ownership (TCO) for the fuel-powered variant (Ford New Generation V348 diesel version) and a representative battery-electric variant (based on comparable models), using parameters from this case study. Comparison Item | Fuel-Powered (Ford New Generation V348 Diesel) | Battery-Electric (Representative Comparable Model) ---|---|--- Procurement Unit Price (per publicly disclosed tender information) | ~RMB 250,000/unit | ~RMB 320,000/unit (post-subsidy) Energy Cost (per 100 km) | ~RMB 80 (diesel @ RMB 8/L; fuel consumption: 10 L/100 km) | ~RMB 25 (electricity @ RMB 0.6/kWh; energy consumption: 40 kWh/100 km) Annual Mileage (estimated at 20,000 km) | RMB 16,000 | RMB 5,000 Maintenance Cost (3 years) | ~RMB 15,000 (including engine oil, filters, etc.) | ~RMB 8,000 (battery coolant replacement, motor inspection, etc.) Battery Replacement Cost (8-year cycle) | None | ~RMB 80,000 (estimated per 8-year replacement) 3-Year Total Cost (including procurement) | ~RMB 250,000 + 16,000 + 15,000 = RMB 313,000 | ~RMB 320,000 + 5,000 + 8,000 = RMB 343,000 Recommended Application Scenarios | Long-distance, high-frequency operation, no charging infrastructure available | Short-haul, fixed-route operation, with reliable charging infrastructure As shown above, although the battery-electric variant offers lower daily energy and maintenance costs, its significantly higher upfront procurement cost and battery replacement expense result in a higher three-year TCO compared to the fuel-powered variant. In this Zhengzhou case, the procuring entity ultimately selected the fuel-powered version, primarily based on the following considerations: 1) Vehicles must cover the entire city area, where charging infrastructure remains underdeveloped; 2) Emergency repair missions require immediate read