The commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) is progressing in China. According to major automaker Dongfeng Motor Group, the number of hydrogen vehicles it has introduced to the market exceeded 9,200 units cumulatively as of May, giving it a domestic market share of approximately 30% and making it the industry leader.

【その他の写真】

The company offers a wide range of hydrogen vehicles, including 49-ton heavy-duty trucks, light trucks, buses, sanitation vehicles, and passenger cars. These vehicles are operating in over 40 cities nationwide and are utilized in trunk line logistics, transportation in ports and mines, urban distribution, and sanitation services.

In recent years, the Chinese government has strengthened its support for the hydrogen energy industry. The Energy Law, which will take effect in 2025, incorporates hydrogen into the energy management system, and this year's government work report for the first time positioned hydrogen energy as a "new growth area" for the economy.

In March this year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development and Reform Commission launched the second phase of the hydrogen energy urban cluster model project. Five urban clusters were selected, and a maximum of 1.6 billion yuan (approximately 38.4 billion yen) in central government funds will be disbursed to each urban cluster as subsidies based on their performance. The goal is also to double the number of fuel cell vehicles in operation by 2030 compared to 2025, and to reduce the average retail price of hydrogen to below 25 yuan (approximately 600 yen) per kilogram.

Driven by policy support, the adoption of FCVs is accelerating. Domestic deliveries from January to April this year exceeded 1,800 units cumulatively, spreading to 15 provinces and municipalities directly under the central government. Of these, hydrogen heavy-duty trucks accounted for 1,079 units and refrigerated/frozen transport vehicles accounted for 450 units, highlighting their use in medium-to-long-distance heavy cargo transport and cold chain logistics.

Industry insiders believe that as core technologies mature and operating costs decrease, the competitiveness and profitability of hydrogen vehicles, especially in the commercial vehicle sector, will further increase. (Provided by Xinhua News Agency)