The first hydrogen-powered subway vehicle in China is here. It can run for 32 hours after 30 minutes of hydrogen refueling.

On July 18, China's first hydrogen-powered subway construction vehicle rolled off the production line in Xiangyang, Hubei. Compared with traditional fuel-powered vehicles, the vehicle can reduce carbon emissions by 225 tons over its entire life cycle.

This hydrogen-powered vehicle uses a hydrogen fuel cell and lithium battery hybrid system to provide traction power, with a designed speed of 80 kilometers per hour. A 30-minute hydrogen refueling can allow the vehicle to run continuously for 32 hours.

At the same time, the vehicle does not require the establishment of a power grid when running, has no exhaust gas or noise, and can be widely used in subways, tunnels, mines and other operating areas.

"Hydrogen energy has the advantages of zero emission, no pollution, and high energy density, and is widely regarded as one of the clean energy sources with the greatest application prospects," said Ding Shukui, vice president of the China Urban Rail Transit Association. At present, the national subway operation mileage has reached 10,000 kilometers, and the mileage under construction is more than 6,000 kilometers. Subway construction and operation and maintenance vehicles are accelerating the promotion and popularization of new energy vehicles, and the market prospects are huge. The launch of the first hydrogen energy subway operation vehicle in China has positive significance for promoting green innovation in the industry.

According to reports, the vehicle was jointly developed by China Railway Wuhan Electrification Bureau and Sichuan Rongxin Innovation Energy Co., Ltd., a scientific and technological achievement transformation enterprise of Southwest Jiaotong University. As a national new energy vehicle industry cluster and the frontier of new energy and new materials industry in Hubei's pioneering zone, Xiangyang has the advantages of Hubei's first hydrogen fuel cell demonstration production line project and a 10 billion-level hydrogen energy project, which can provide fertile soil for the large-scale development of hydrogen energy operation vehicles.

According to the relevant person in charge of the Hubei Provincial Department of Economics and Information Technology, in recent years, a series of policies such as the "Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan for Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021-2035)" and the "Hubei Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Plan (2021-2035)" issued by the state and the province have made it clear that hydrogen energy is the key direction for the development of strategic emerging industries. The China Railway Wuhan Electrification Bureau is building a hydrogen operation vehicle production base in Xiangyang, which will further help Xiangyang build a high-end equipment manufacturing base in the central region.