Recently, a demonstration & application city cluster for promoting fuel cell vehicles applications (hereinafter referred to as the cluster) was approved by the central government, as a way to lead new revolutionary changes in local vehicle industry. With Foshan designated as the leader city, the cluster consists of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Yangjiang, Yunfu, Fuzhou, Zibo, Baotou, Luan, etc. (广州、深圳、珠海、东莞、中山、阳江、云浮、福州、淄博、包头和六安等). With strong commitment to coordinated regional development, the cluster will focus on technological innovation, industrial chain construction, hydrogen energy supply, vehicle marketing, and policy making.

The worlds first commercial hydrogen energy tram launched in Gaoming, Foshan (Photo by Li Cuiyi, Foshan Daily)The birth of the cluster broke new grounds in China. Not only have there been some policy tools in Guangdong, but also some innovation-driven measures adopted in many other regions in China. As a pioneering city, Foshan has also developed “Foshan model” in administrative approval & management methods of hydrogen refueling stations, and the possible ways to promote cell vehicles. To this date, Foshan has been the first to pilot stations that integrate production and refueling of hydrogenation. At present, Guangdong is home to 39 hydrogen refueling stations (10 are under construction), outnumber any other province in China.

An electric bus at a hydrogen fueling station in Foshan

After the city cluster won the approval, it will give full play to the provinces first-mover advantage in fuel cell vehicle industry.In the area of technological innovation and industrialization, the city cluster will intensify R&D efforts in three major areas: 1) key components (such as stacks and membrane electrodes); 2) basic materials (such as proton exchange membranes, catalysts, and carbon paper); 3) major research projects (such as integration & control of fuel cell system, and vehicle logistics).As for promotion and application, the city cluster aims to create a bigger marketplace of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by cutting manufacturing costs via innovation. For the whole duration of the demonstration project, it has set a goal of manufacturing 10,000 vehicles.With considerations in environment stewardship, the city cluster will innovate the existing mechanism to build a sound hydrogen energy supply system (manufacturing-storage-transport-refueling), and a secure hydrogen supply system.

Author | Jersey

Revisor | Eleanor 

Photo | Foshan Daily