Hydrogen vehicles to play key green role
AsChinaaimstoachievecarbonneutralityby2060,moreopportunitieswillemergeinthehydrogenfuel-cellvehiclesector,expertssaid.
“Industryplayersshould seizeopportunitiesoffered by thenation’ s commitment to achievingcarbonneutral ity.T hey should consistentlyenhancethe performanceand technology of core components and parts , key material sand fuel cell systems , and lower system costs ,” sai dZ hangJinhua , executive vice-president and secretary-generalof the China Society of AutomotiveEngineers , during the sixth InternationalHydrogen Fuel Cell VehicleCongress in Shanghai.
Initsreportonenergysavingandnewenergyvehicles,theChinaSocietyofAutomotiveEngineersprojectedtherewillbeabout1millionfuelcellvehiclesinoperationacrossChinaby2035,alongwithsome5,000hydrogenfillingstations.
To achieve this goal , the developmentand enhancement of key technologiesincluding fuel cell materials,enginesystems and hydrogenfillingstation swill be vital , said expertsduring the three day event that close son Thursday.
“There has been a globalconsensus to realize de carbonization . Currently , major nations are resolute indevelopingcleaner hydrogen-based energyworldwide with respectivestrategies and road maps ,” saidYuZhuo ping , professor of the School of AutomotiveStudies of Tongji University.
Althougharelativelatecomerinhydrogen power, China is rapidlynarrowingitsgapwithglobalpeers,andithasevengainedanadvantageinindustrialsupplychainlayout.
Thedrivetogogreenandachievecarbon neutrality along with theupcomingBeijingWinterGamesin2022 are prompting developmentofhydrogenfuelsandFCVsacrossChina.
“Asyoulookto2030,weexpecttoseeabout5millionfuelcellvehiclesgloballyontheroad,withaheavyemphasis on fuel cell buses andcommercialtrucks,andChinawillplayasignificantroleinthatadoption,”said Randy MacEwen, presidentand CEO of Ballard PowerSystems.
Mac Ewen said fuel cell shave thestrongest value proposition inmedium and heavy-duty motivemarkets ,like buses , trucks,trainsand boats . This is because the valueproposition is strongest for heavyvehicles with long range requirementsand fast refueling needs . These are the markets , and batteriesstruggle to have capablesolutions.
During the sixth InternationalHydrogen Fuel Cell VehicleCongress,Canada-based Ballard PowerSystemsreached a strategiccooperation agreement on June 9 with Sin yuan Industry Group on the long term collaboration of fuel cell material research , development and supply.
Under the agreement , Sin yuanbecomes the exclusive graphitematerialssupplier for Ballard’ s bipolar plates , and the two parties willwork together to promote the popularityand application of fuel cells.
“Being an important materialsupplierand partner of Ballard Power Systems shows the appreciation for Sinyuan’s graphite bipolar plate material quality . And Sin yuan will lower production costs for fuel cells from upstreamsegments of the supply chain to promote clean energy popularization in China ,” said YuanYilin, p resident of Sin yuan.
Higherproduction costs compared to lithium-i on batteries areahindrance , but Sinyuan’s strength sin graphite material production , research and development will help greatly lower costs , Yuan said.