Long Read: Why China Is So Keen on Hydrogen

Greater adoption of the energy source would help the oil-dependent country achieve better energy security while further building up its NEV industry

Shanghai has recently introduced a new mode of transportation.

These vehicles resemble shared bicycles, but their frames contain hydrogen, providing assistance to riders. Known as “hydrogen bicycles,” around 1,500 of these shared bikes have been deployed on the city’s streets.

Once confined only to textbooks, “hydrogen energy” is now entering the public eye. In addition to hydrogen bicycles, various regions across China are promoting hydrogen-powered trucks, buses, and passenger vehicles. In February this year, East China’s Shandong province announced a policy exempting hydrogen vehicles from highway tolls, which delighted hydrogen truck and bus operators, potentially saving them thousands of yuan annually.