The Recent Policies and Development of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell in China

摘要

Potentially large amount of hydrogen resource in China could theoretically supply 100 million fuel cell passenger cars yearly. The Chinese government highly values the hydrogen and fuel cell technology. Policies and plans have been put forward densely in the recent five years. Numerous companies, research institutes and universities are developing PEMFC and SOFC related technologies. A preliminary local supplier chain of fuel cell related technology has been formed. However, the lifetime is still a key issue for the fuel cell technology. More than 3,500 fuel cell range extender electric vehicles were manufactured during 2016 and 2018, and at the beginning of 2019 the number of hydrogen refueling stations including both under operation and under construction is beyond forty. It is estimated the number of fuel cell based electric vehicles will reach 36,000 by the end of 2020; therefore, lack of hydrogen refueling station has become a key restriction in developing the fuel cell vehicle industry.