Sichuan Launches Hydrogen Corridor with Over 1300 Hydrogen Vehicles and Develops Long-Term Hydrogen Industry Plan for 2025-2035

Sichuan Province: The Chengyu Hydrogen Corridor now operates over 1,300 hydrogen vehicles while efforts are underway to develop the Sichuan Hydrogen Industry Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan (2025-2035).

On April 23, the 2025 Hydrogen Industry Conference and the Sichuan Hydrogen Industry Supply and Demand Matching Meeting commenced in Chengdu. At the event, Luoming, a secondary inspector from the Sichuan Provincial Economic and Information Technology Department, emphasized that the provincial government views the hydrogen energy industry as a strategic priority for new industrialization. A comprehensive hydrogen industry chain encompassing production, storage, transportation, refueling, and utilization has already been established.

Overall, Sichuan’s hydrogen energy sector is at a critical juncture for significant growth. In terms of policy, last November, the Sichuan Provincial Government issued the Action Plan to Further Promote the Development and Application of the Hydrogen Energy Industry Chain (2024-2027). This plan continues to provide financial incentives across the hydrogen industry chain, addressing current bottlenecks in the sector, such as free usage of the “hydrogen highway” and supporting interactions between hydrogen energy and the power grid.

Luoming stated, “We are working diligently to compile the Sichuan Hydrogen Industry Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan (2025-2035) to guide the development of the hydrogen industry in various regions of Sichuan according to local conditions, fostering a competitive industrial ecosystem.”

Currently, Chengdu is home to over 100 hydrogen energy companies, covering the entire industry chain. Oriental Hydrogen has achieved full industry chain integration, with its fuel cell systems leading nationally. Yalian Hydrogen has developed the world’s first 200Nm3/h biomass ethanol reforming hydrogen production device and established the first non-chemical park hydrogen production and refueling station in the western region, significantly reducing overall costs by 20%. Various applications of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, two-wheelers, and emergency power sources are flourishing, with the pioneering demonstration of hydrogen-blended natural gas in residential communities.

Since the official opening of the Chengyu Hydrogen Corridor in November 2021, hundreds of hydrogen-powered light and heavy trucks have been commuting daily between Chengdu, Chongqing, and surrounding cities. As one of the starting points for the corridor, the Jiulongpo District of Chongqing has attracted various manufacturers of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles, logistics companies, and refueling stations, forming a comprehensive vehicle manufacturing, application, and energy supply system.

So far, over 1,300 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been put into operation in Sichuan and Chongqing, with 27 refueling stations established, making it the foremost demonstration scale in the western region and among the top in the nation. The development of the Chengyu Hydrogen Corridor and the application of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are pivotal in leveraging hydrogen’s advantages in energy security and zero emissions, enhancing the green and low-carbon transformation of the transportation sector.

Moreover, the Chengyu Hydrogen Corridor has accelerated the integration of resource industries in the Sichuan-Chongqing region, promoting complementary cooperation among enterprises. For instance, more than 100 hydrogen fuel cell logistics vehicles operated by Chengdu Zhongwushengtong Transportation Company utilize Yihuatong hydrogen fuel cell engines. Oriental Electric (Chengdu) Hydrogen Technology Co. is collaborating with several vehicle manufacturers in Sichuan and Chongqing for hydrogen vehicle development, and is investing in the construction of the Oriental Hydrogen Industrial Park, which aggregates a cluster of industry chain enterprises for collaborative growth.

Innovative applications of hydrogen energy continue to emerge in the Chengyu region. Deep Blue Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles are gradually establishing their core technological advantages and entering the consumer automotive market. On April 14, 10 hydrogen-fueled highway buses departed from the Chongqing Waterless Port, marking the formal opening of the western Land-Sea New Passage Hydrogen Corridor along the Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi line. On April 8, a 50 kg hydrogen energy drone completed a 30-hour long-duration flight in Chengdu, setting a new record for similar flying devices in China and achieving internationally leading endurance capabilities.

As the commercialization of hydrogen energy accelerates, demonstration applications, akin to the incorporation of hydrogen-blended natural gas into households, will continue to emerge.