China's Dongguan city to deploy 900 fuel cell vehicles in pilot applications by 2025

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The Dongguan Development & Reform Bureau issued the "Action Plan for Hydrogen Industry Development (2023-2025) in Dongguan City" (the "Action Plan") on December 12, outlining ambitious goals to position the city as a hub for hydrogen-related enterprises.

According to the document, by 2025, Dongguan city aims to foster at least three leading hydrogen industry enterprises, nurture over 50 growth-oriented companies, put 900 fuel cell vehicles into pilot applications, establish 20 hydrogen refueling stations, and strive for the creation of five key hydrogen-related laboratories, engineering research centers, and corporate technology centers.

Geely's fuel cell bus; photo credit: Geely

To expedite the acceleration of the hydrogen energy industry, the Action Plan emphasizes the need for technological innovation, independent equipment manufacturing, diversified demonstration applications, and industrial clustering.

In terms of technology innovation, Dongguan will concentrate efforts on pivotal areas and critical stages within the hydrogen energy sector. The city aims to cultivate an industry innovation system characterized by "government guidance, corporate leadership, and collaborative innovation." The plan involves continuous reinforcement of fundamental research, key technology advancements, and disruptive technological innovations. Dongguan will construct a multi-level and diversified innovation platform while deepening collaboration between academia, industry, and R&D.

Dongguan city plans to implement projects aimed at elevating R&D innovation levels, leveraging the technological advantages of the Songshan Lake Science City, and developing key laboratories, innovation centers, and engineering research centers. This initiative aims to construct an efficient collaborative innovation network that supports the development of critical technologies and engineering applications in the hydrogen energy sector, fostering the incubation of highly innovative enterprises.

Simultaneously, support will be extended to academic research institutions such as the Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan New Energy Research Institute, Tsinghua Innovation Center in Dongguan, and Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials, Dongguan. These institutions will engage in technical R&D and project incubation in areas such as green hydrogen production, hydrogen storage materials, proton exchange membranes, novel catalysts, and solid oxide fuel cells, fostering the transformation of technological achievements.

The Action Plan outlines Dongguan's commitment to cultivating the entire chain of the equipment manufacturing industry. Priority will be given to the development of hydrogen production, storage, and transportation equipment manufacturing industries, acceleration of hydrogen refueling station equipment manufacturing, and the establishment of comprehensive standards covering hydrogen production, storage, transportation, refueling, utilization, and related testing.

Under the plan, the city aims to drive the concentration and development of key components of fuel cells. It seeks to advance the industrialization of critical materials, key components, and power systems for fuel cells. The plan encourages enterprises such as HYNDVATION and Jiayu Carbon to accelerate R&D and production of critical core components, including fuel cell systems, graphite bipolar plates, and full cell stacks. Dongguan city will expedite the introduction of leading enterprises in areas such as membrane electrodes, proton exchange membranes, catalysts, carbon paper, air compressors, and hydrogen circulation pumps, forming a complete industry chain covering eight core fuel cell components.

In the demonstration and application of fuel cell vehicles, Dongguan will take commercial vehicle applications such as cold chain logistics, sanitation vehicles, and heavy-duty tractors as the gateway, in a bid to advance the demonstration and application of fuel cell vehicles in areas like ports, logistics parks, key industrial parks, long-distance freight transportation, urban distribution, sanitation, and urban construction. This initiative aims to establish a hydrogen energy logistics center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and a green demonstration port.