Dongfeng Automobile partners with government, institute, university for hydrogen development

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Dongfeng Automobile Co., Ltd. (DFAC), a Hubei-based subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor Company Limited, concluded a strategic cooperation agreement on July 25 with local government of Xiangyang, SPIC Central Research Institute (SPICRI) and Wuhan University of Technology on R&D of hydrogen-powered equipment and hydrogen transportation pilot application & promotion, according to the automaker's announcement.

Under the new agreement, all parties involved will jointly develop and promote hydrogen fuel cell vehicle models based on market demands, and vigorously boost the application of hydrogen energy and fuel cell technologies in scenarios like buses and logistics.

(Photo source: DFAC's WeChat account)

Specifically, DFAC will be responsible for the development of hydrogen fuel cell complete vehicles and SPICRI should preside over the R&D of hydrogen fuel cell stacks and systems. Besides, the university is accountable for providing technical supports and talents for the vehicle development. With the blessing from Xiangyang government, all participants will jointly build an innovative platform in this city to bolster hydrogen-related technology's application in transportation domain.

The announcement also said four parties would deepen their cooperation in the hydrogen industrial chain focusing on manufacturing, storage and transportation of hydrogen, the hydrogen refueling station construction and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle demonstration and commercial promotion, so as to popularize hydrogen-powered vehicles in Xiangyang.

To reach this goal, the Dongfeng-owned automaker is in charge of the production of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and SPICRI will supply hydrogen fuel cell stacks and powertrains, and drive the infrastructure construction like hydrogen refueling stations.

Meanwhile, the government is supposed to offer policy supports in terms of resource guarantee for hydrogen production, location selection for hydrogen refueling stations, a series of administration approval processes and other supporting facilities.

This agreement shall remain effective for five years, and shall come into forces as of the date when all parties signed the agreements. After the expiry of the validity period of the contract, the agreement could be renewed by all parties if it is totally uncontested.

The Chinese government has been stepping up efforts to develop the hydrogen industry with the construction of infrastructures like charging and hydrogen refueling stations mentioned in the 2019 Government Work Report.

Besides, China intends to establish a total of 1,000 hydrogen refueling stations and promote 1 million hydrogen-powered vehicles nationwide by 2030, according to the Blue Book on Infrastructure Development of China's Hydrogen Energy Industry issued by the National Technical Committee 309 on Hydrogen Energy of Standardization Administration of China.