Time: 20 10-03- 18 09:24 Source: China Quality Miles Author: Chen Aijun
Air energy water heater, known as the fourth generation water heater, has become the new favorite of the market because of its energy saving and environmental protection effect compared with solar water heater, and a large number of enterprises have entered this market for gold. However, with the rapid expansion of the market, mud and sand are everywhere.
Core Tip: Air-energy water heaters, known as the "fourth generation" water heaters, have become the new favorite of the market because of their energy-saving and environmental protection effects compared with solar water heaters, and a large number of enterprises have entered this market for "gold rush". However, with the rapid expansion of the market, mud and sand are everywhere. Unlicensed production, "sticking to foreign famous brands", false propaganda, technical shortcomings, lack of after-sales, and high prices have all surfaced. The air energy water heater market is facing a severe test.
China Quality Miles Magazine
Text/Figure Huang Our reporter
65438+10.6, the inspection branch of the Quality Supervision Bureau of Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province suddenly punched out and concentrated on the two-day special rectification and law enforcement inspection of air energy water heater manufacturers. "Incomplete certification, counterfeiting, false propaganda, etc. It has seriously disrupted the market of air energy water heaters, and it is impossible not to deal with it! " A law enforcement captain said.
On 15 after the Copenhagen conference, on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, the first clean quality was "severely punished"-this undoubtedly caused quite a shock in Jiangmen City, where there are many manufacturers of air energy water heaters. This symbolic blow has also been regarded by many people in the industry as one of the important weather vanes for observing the new year market. "The rectification movement of the air energy water heater market has begun." A similar statement began to circulate quietly in the industry.
Air energy water heater, also known as air source heat pump water heater, is the latest generation of high-end water heater products after boiler, electric heating, gas and solar energy, and enjoys the reputation of "fourth generation" water heater because its energy-saving and environmental protection effect exceeds solar energy. Its energy consumption is only 1/4 of that of traditional electric water heaters, 1/3 of that of gas water heaters and 2/3 of that of solar water heaters. And because it has no electric heating element in contact with water, it realizes the complete separation of water and electricity, which is safer and more reliable than the traditional electric water heater.
In developed countries, the market of air energy water heaters is quite mature, and the use ratio is as high as 70%. In China, air energy water heaters have gradually emerged since 2000, with a rapid growth momentum.
According to market statistics, the total annual sales of air energy water heaters in 2002 was less than 654.38+0 billion yuan, while the total annual sales in 2009 exceeded 654.38+0.5 billion yuan. Although this is less than 1% of the whole water heater market share, experts predict that the market scale will exceed10 billion yuan in five years.
Some people commented that, just like the development speed of internet access in previous years, the sales growth rate of the whole industry of air energy water heaters will increase geometrically, and the market space is huge.
The huge market space brings mud and sand and competes for profits. It was not until September 2009 1 that the national standard for air energy water heaters was officially implemented. "The previous standard vacuum determined that the air energy water heater market will inevitably experience a strong pain from chaos to rectification, and the air energy water heater market is facing a severe test," said a senior observer.
Philpson's advertisement: "Save 80%".
The organizational structure of "American Philson"
Law enforcement officers are at the Fidas law enforcement site.
"Space Energy Water Heater" promoted by Huizhou Shuanghe.
Unlicensed products are sealed according to law.
Philpson is a secret battle of foreign names.
65438+ 10 7, law enforcement officers of Jiangmen Quality Supervision Bureau entered Jiangmen Fidas New Energy Co., Ltd. for a surprise inspection. The reporter found at the law enforcement site that the Fidas production line is very simple, and all the production sites are manually operated, without special laboratories and inspection equipment. At present, it is impossible to meet the requirements of national compulsory product 3C certification. Due to suspected unlicensed production and fraudulent use of certification marks, law enforcement officers immediately seized all the production and sales records of Fidas Company, sealed the production line and sealed all the products on site. In another factory, Filson (Jiangmen) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., known as "the largest and most professional production base of heat pump water heaters in China", only a 3C certificate was issued for dozens of products with certification marks, and the coverage was limited to three products.
According to industry insiders, due to the low market entry threshold of heat pump, even the husband and wife files of an air conditioning maintenance department are refitting air energy water heaters. "The 3C certification fee for a model of air energy water heater is as high as 250,000-30,000 yuan. Faced with the endless changes in model specifications in the market, these small enterprises simply cannot afford the high cost of certification. " Insiders revealed to reporters, "It is only a microcosm of the national air energy water heater market to engage in a certificate like Filson to deal with regulatory authorities and consumers."
According to statistics, at present, there are about 500 enterprises in the whole industry of air energy heat pump water heaters, mainly concentrated in Jiangsu and Zhejiang and the surrounding areas of Guangdong, including more than 200 in Jiangsu and Zhejiang and more than 300 in Guangdong. Only dozens of brands, such as Midea, Gree and Yi Tong, have their own brands. Most of the others are miscellaneous brands and have no independent production capacity. They all adopt "takenism" and do DIY at will.
Because the quality of products can't be guaranteed, and even there is no after-sales service, many manufacturers can't find anyone after selling a batch of products. "They will change a brand." The insiders laughed at themselves, "A batch of enterprises will be dumped in one winter."
China Quality Miles reporter learned from the investigation that compressor is the most important component of air energy water heater, but now there are few domestic enterprises that can break through the technical bottleneck, and the high-end core technology is basically mastered by foreign enterprises, and local enterprises are in the low-end position in the international industrial value chain. At present, the compressors used by most small and medium-sized enterprises in Guangdong mainly come from the improved products of air-conditioning compressors, and more than 90% of them belong to heat pump hot water products with air-conditioning concept.
As a result, driven by interests, some enterprises put on dresses such as "American brand", "Japanese technology" and "Made in Germany".
The website of Phelps (Jiangmen) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. claims that since its establishment more than four years ago, Phelps has continuously expanded its sales network, improved and improved its after-sales service, set up branches, offices and monopoly chain stores in various parts of China, and set up Phelps Company in Chile, Australia, Britain, Malaysia and other countries and regions; With national, international and Hong Kong safety certification ... Phelps' global product export ratio is 45% in the United States, 30% in Europe and 25% in Asia. ...
The publicity website of Fidas Electric Appliances (Jiangmen) Co., Ltd. also claims that Fidas Electric Appliances (Zhongshan) Co., Ltd., invested and built by Fidas International (Holdings) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the United States, owns well-known registered trademarks of Fidas, Filipson and other products, and is a production enterprise mainly engaged in the research and development and production of high-tech energy-saving and environmental protection products and household appliances. The main products independently developed and produced involve domestic and commercial air-energy central water heaters, air-energy central air-conditioning and hot water dual-purpose units, LED and other high-tech energy-saving products. ...
What makes it difficult for the outside world to understand is that the foreign name "Philpson" has become a hot potato just because it is full of foreign flavor. Philposen (Jiangmen) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. used "Philposen" as the factory name, and Jiangmen Feidasi New Energy Co., Ltd. first registered the trademark of "Philposen". Even for this foreign name, the two companies also launched a "dark war." According to the query of China Trademark Network, the application date of "PHELPSON" trademark is 65438+February 30, 2004, and the registration number is 444 1740. The owner is Li, and the exclusive period is from April 7, 2009 to April 6, 20 19. In April 2006, Jiangmen Philpson New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. also applied for the trademark "Philpson PHELPSON", which was rejected by the State Trademark Office.
China Quality Miles reporter confirmed through various surveys that "American Philposon (Hong Kong) International Co., Ltd." under the name of Philposon (Jiangmen) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. and "American Philposon International (Holdings) Co., Ltd." under Fidas are shell companies registered in Hong Kong.
According to industry sources, a company registered in Hong Kong can complete the registration by acting as an intermediary for several thousand yuan. The lesson of "Oudian Floor" did not stop enterprises from pursuing profits and sticking to well-known foreign brands.
Once, I was at home in a hot spring?
"One-time electric hot spring at home" is an attractive advertisement of Guangdong Midea Commercial Air Conditioning Equipment Co., Ltd. ..
According to Midea's official website, Midea's energy-saving and comfortable "Hot Springs" series air energy water heaters consume very little electric energy, absorb a lot of free heat in the outdoor air, and concentrate the outdoor air heat energy into cold water, so that the cold water can quickly heat up and meet the requirements of household bathrooms, changing the traditional gas and electric heating methods, and the heat energy is completely generated by the heat existing in the air, thus truly achieving the goal of energy-saving pioneers.
However, the reporter found in the investigation that a 450-watt all-in-one product of Midea is equipped with two electric heating rods.
Lai Huisheng, chief engineer of Jiangmen Kailixin Technology Co., Ltd. told the reporter that the products on the market at present can't tell the authenticity. We can only distinguish which heating method is the main one. One is a simple air energy heat pump, now called air energy water heater. One is a product with air energy as the main and electric heating as the auxiliary, which can be called electric auxiliary hot air energy water heater; One is air-assisted electric heating, which can be called air-assisted electric water heater. Pure air energy water heaters can achieve real energy-saving effect, while those products with electric auxiliary heating have less energy-saving effect.
At present, most products in Guangdong, Fujian and Guangxi markets belong to the first category; Most markets in East China and Central China are mainly two products, and its design concept is mainly to deal with low temperature weather and the northern market in low temperature areas.
However, in order to reduce the volume and cost, some products in the market adopt the methods of low-power compressor, small-area heat exchanger and high-power electric auxiliary heating device, which greatly reduces the energy saving. At present, the so-called "all-in-one machine" on the market belongs to this situation.
Some manufacturers have even created a new concept of "space energy water heater". Huizhou Shuanghe New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. has such a description in the publicity: "Space energy water heater makes full use of solar energy to heat hot water when there is sun, and air source heat pump does work to absorb heat energy in the air to heat hot water when there is no sun, thus providing users with domestic hot water 24 hours a day ... Space energy water heater is unique in China."
"Space energy water heater is a deformed concept fabricated by merchants' wishful thinking, deliberately fooling consumers!" Relevant personnel of the Inspection Bureau of Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision told the reporter.
More energy-saving or more environmentally friendly?
The biggest advantage of air energy water heater lies in energy saving and environmental protection. Kang Zeng, director of the Energy Conservation Information Communication Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that as long as 10% electric water heaters are replaced by air energy water heaters, 3.3 billion kWh of electricity can be saved in one year, which is about10.29 million tons of standard coal.
"Energy saving is obvious, but all products are environmentally friendly, I dare not say!" According to insiders, "Like all air-conditioning products, most of the refrigerants (refrigerants) used in compressors of air-energy water heaters and heat pumps are also Freon R22, but at present, most air-conditioning products have been replaced by new refrigerants R4 10A, R 134A, R407C, R404, R502 and other substitutes". It is reported that R4 10A is internationally recognized as the most suitable refrigerant to replace R22, which does not destroy the ozone layer and has been popularized in Europe, America, Japan and other countries.
According to the investigation of China Quality Miles reporter, many large enterprises in the market have adopted new refrigerants, especially export products, but many small enterprises still hang the signboard of adding Freon R22. "Although the national policy has explicitly banned the use of Freon R22, there is still a process for the market to completely replace it. R4 10A refrigerant is more expensive than Freon R22 in 80 yuan RMB per kilogram, so it is not easy to buy in the market. Moreover, because the storage and transportation requirements of R4 10A refrigerant are very high and the market promotion is not popular, the maintenance is inconvenient and the maintenance cost is high. Many enterprises continue to use R22 from the perspective of cost saving. " Insiders analyzed.
However, in the fierce market competition, the reporter learned that many powerful enterprises began to consciously play technology cards and "environmental protection" cards to develop circulating water heating systems.
"We reject the fluorine cycle!" Become the loudest advertisement in the air energy water heater heat pump market. Merchants including Gree and Midea have launched water circulation heating products.
"But recycling fluorine or recycling water is actually a question of choosing more energy-saving or more environmentally friendly! The prices of these two products are almost the same. Because there is an extra water pump and an inner pipe, the cost of water circulation heating is slightly higher, and the power consumption will be more, because there is an extra water pump with several hundred watts working at the same time. What about between energy conservation and environmental protection? You can only choose one of the two. " Technical experts told reporters.
After-sales service has become a weakness
105,65438, China Quality Miles reporter came to Jiangmen Maternal and Child Health Hospital for an interview. Unfortunately, the power went out. "After the power failure, the heat pump unit could not work, and the hot water supply in the hospital was cut off," said Li Jianwen, chief of the General Affairs Section. "We use the air energy water heater of Jiangmen Philpson, which has been installed for more than a year. The overall operation is still normal, but the hot water supply is unstable when the weather changes. "
Reporters' surveys in many colleges and universities in Guangzhou show that this is not a case. "After-sales service has always been the weakness of air energy water heaters." Tan, director of the logistics department of South China Agricultural University, said that although the school heat pump system is well equipped, its stability is average, and refrigeration has a great influence on the equipment. For the damaged machine, the school has contacted the manufacturer for maintenance, but most of the manufacturers are not in Guangzhou, and the maintenance time is long, which affects the normal supply of hot water.
In Jiangmen Pump Industry Co., Ltd., Mr. Tan from the logistics department told the reporter that in 2006, the company installed the air energy water heater produced by Foshan Shunde Drinking Water Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd., with 9.2 hosts and 8 tons of water tank capacity, which can be used by more than 100 employees, with a total cost of more than 80,000 yuan. However, some time ago, there was a problem with the heat pump unit. When looking for a manufacturer to repair it, I found that "Bi Li company has no fixed after-sales service personnel, and people who deal with problems are like speculators (casual workers)." Mr. Tan told reporters, "Accessories should be changed! There is a problem of replacement of old and new products. If you want to change to a new machine because there are no accessories, you have to spend tens of thousands of dollars. Isn't that a big loss? "
The manufacturer in Bi Li said that this control system product is no longer produced by the manufacturer, and the control box is an old version, so there are no parts to replace. If you want to change the new version, it costs more than 1000 yuan, and it costs 50,000 to 60,000 yuan to change the host.
The reporter learned in Guangzhou Branch of China Quality Certification Center that the compulsory certification certificate of heat pump water heater products of Bi Li Drinking Water Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was suspended because the manufacturer failed to accept supervision and inspection within the prescribed time limit. The reporter found that the company mainly produces drinking water equipment, and the heat pump water heater is an OEM product.
There is no chance of "home appliances going to the countryside"
It is understood that the European Climate Change Agreement issued on June 5438+065438+ 10, 2008 identified air-source heat pump technology as renewable energy. Air energy water heaters are widely used in developed countries such as Japan and Australia. However, the one-time investment of air energy water heaters is slightly higher than that of traditional gas and electric water heaters, and the cheapest one costs more than 4,000 yuan, which restricts its popularization. The insiders believe that this problem can only be solved by the joint efforts of enterprises and the government.
"Because of the excellent energy-saving effect of air energy water heaters, Japan and European and American countries have a policy subsidy of 25% of the purchase price." It is reported that Japan is vigorously promoting the household popularization of heat pump water heaters. In its "non-gasification family" plan, the number of household popularization of heat pump water heaters increased to more than 80% in 2007; In Australia, electric water heaters are being forced out.
Ma Dejun, vice president of China Household Electrical Appliances Research Institute and secretary-general of the Secretariat of the National Household Electrical Appliances Standardization Technical Committee, predicted that the state will also issue detailed implementation rules and may give financial support to products such as air energy water heaters listed in the catalogue of energy-saving and emission-reduction products.
However, China Quality Miles reporter looked up the catalogue of products going to the countryside published by Home Appliances Going to the Countryside Network of the Ministry of Commerce on June 5438+February 3, 2009/KLOC-0, and found that the most "energy-saving and environmentally friendly" air energy water heater failed to "go to the countryside with home appliances".
"The inflated price is the main reason. According to the average price of 4,000 yuan/set, even if the state financial subsidy is 13%, it is difficult for farmers to buy it. " Industry veterans said, "This is why the total annual sales of air energy water heaters exceeds 65.438+0.5 billion yuan, but it is less than 654.38+0% of the total market share of water heaters."
This person believes that the reasons for this embarrassing situation are: First, many manufacturers regard air energy heat pump water heaters as the last piece of cake in the home appliance industry and make huge profits when the products are priced at the factory; Second, the sales cost and profit are too high, and the whole production and marketing chain is doubled, resulting in a serious imbalance or even deformity in the ratio of manufacturing cost to terminal selling price.