Are There Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles in China?
2 Answers
China does have hydrogen-powered vehicles. Although hydrogen energy is also a type of new energy, the current major trend still favors pure electric vehicles, so hydrogen energy brands and models are few and far between. Currently, the more well-known hydrogen-powered vehicles mainly include the following models: Maxus FCV80: This is a 2017 model, but it has been discontinued. The principle of this vehicle is that hydrogen reacts with oxygen in the air to produce electricity and water, achieving complete green, pollution-free, low-noise, and zero-emission operation. Toyota Mirai: The Toyota Mirai is now in its second generation, equipped with three hydrogen storage tanks capable of carrying 5.6 kilograms of hydrogen, a 20% increase over the previous generation. At the same time, energy consumption has been optimized by 10%, allowing the new-generation Mirai to achieve a WLTC range of 850 kilometers, a 30% increase over the previous generation. Advantages of Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles: The emission is pure water, producing no pollutants during operation; hydrogen sources are abundant, not only producible from other energy sources but also efficiently convertible into other forms of energy. As an energy carrier, hydrogen has important applications in various fields such as transportation, industry, and construction, and its use can enhance the flexibility of the energy system.
As a car enthusiast, I've been closely following the development of new energy vehicles. China does indeed have hydrogen-powered cars, with manufacturers like GAC and Great Wall introducing fuel cell models, though they're still in the experimental phase. I've seen them at auto shows myself, and the technology feels somewhat similar to electric vehicles, but with much faster refueling times. The problem is the scarcity of hydrogen refueling stations—there are some pilot stations in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, but smaller cities basically have none. If ordinary consumers want to buy one, they might need to wait three to five years until the infrastructure improves. Government policies are supportive, such as subsidies for R&D, but for large-scale adoption, cost and safety issues still need to be overcome. Overall, China has made a good start in this area, with promising prospects, but there's still a long way to go.
