Innovation

When the school’s owner, Canguang Zhang, setup the Hongtong Driving School, he found that the majority of driving schools emit lots of exhaust. So he started to pay attention on how to make his school achieve low emission. He discussed this concern with his friends, who would be the driving instructors in the school. They focused on the hybrid car and decided to use hybrid cars for teaching purpose instead of using conventional cars. Then Canguang ordered 50 new cars from a car company. By doing this, the school is running successfully under a good air condition. Canguang told me that “Since we are the first driving school in this city that use hybrid vehicles, we got people’s attraction and hence more and more people decide to learn driving skills at our school. What's more, we can have fresh air even in a driving school.” Therefore, this environmental friendly driving school enhances its reputation and hence gains financial benefits.

Inspiration

Nowadays, the global community raises awareness on environmental issues and people are tending to have a green life. While visiting other driving schools, Canguang found that most learners wear masks at schools as the air quality is poor, even though there are lots of trees planted around. He mentioned that “Because conventional cars emit a high level of pollutants in the air, we need to do what we can to be more environmentally friendly.”

Overall impact

By using hybrid vehicles, teaching methods of Hongtong driving school are varied from others. They will demonstrate the hybrid technology to learners when they first get in the hybrid car. Also, the school corrects learners habits, like avoiding unnecessary acceleration, to achieve greener driving. People get to know more about hybrid technology and several students have decided to make a hybrid vehicle purchase after experiencing driving training with the school. In addition, this innovation decreased pollution and reduced effects of global warming.

Although purchasing numbers of hybrid cars cost a lot, there is a substantial operating cost saving over the life of the car. Canguang pointed out that “The hybrid vehicle has not shown any maintenance disadvantages of a driving school car.” Moreover, the carbon footprint has been cut down by more than 20% last year illustrated by the school’s annual environmental report.

Business benefit

Hongtong driving school has 25% learners more than the industry average as they are using hybrid cars, which makes the school earn more money. Also, the school saves money on fuel since a hybrid car doesn't use as much fuel as conventional car. Staffs at the school including driving instructors are pleased with the working environments and hence create more value to the school.

Social and environmental benefit

Although hybrid technology has been in use for many years in vehicles, it’s not widely used in China. By getting familiar with and knowing more about hybrid cars at school, people will raise their environmental awareness. Moreover, not only learners and school’s staffs but also people living around the school will live a healthy life, as the air quality becomes better. In addition, less fuel usage on hybrid cars will reduce fuel exploration, thus helping to save our environment and wildlife.

Interview

Canguang Zhang, Owner