China conducted its first long-distance cross-region transport test of two hydrogen-powered vehicles, said China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group), China's major oil refiner, on Friday.

The two heavy trucks, traveling from Daxing District in Beijing to Shanghai for roughly 1,500 kilometers over two days, carried out hydrogen refueling tests at seven refueling stations along the route.

They were equipped with a 180-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell system and weighed 28 tonnes each, carrying cargo such as hydrogen fuel cell cooling liquid and diesel vehicle exhaust treatment liquid.

This is the country's first large-scale, long-distance, cross-region actual transport test of hydrogen vehicles, said Sinopec Group.

Number of hydrogen refueling stations ranks world's first

Hydrogen-fueled vehicles, just as pure electric vehicles, are new energy vehicles. They have advantages in long-distance haul with heavy loads as they can be quickly refueled.

In order to facilitate long-distance and cross-region transportation powered by hydrogen energy, China has accelerated the layout of the hydrogen refueling station network in recent years.

So far, there are a total of 1,152 hydrogen refueling stations in the world, of which 428 have been built in China, ranking it first in the world, and covering 30 domestic provinces and cities.

The improving refueling station network has provided important support for the development of hydrogen vehicles in China.

The country currently has about 21,000 hydrogen vehicles. In 2023, the production and sales volume of such vehicles in China reached 5,600 and 5,800, respectively, with year-on-year increases of 55.3 percent and 72 percent.

Application of hydrogen energy industry enters a 'fast lane'

Hydrogen energy is a key development direction for China's emerging industries as well as developing new quality productive forces.

The government work report this year calls for accelerating the development of cutting-edge and emerging industries, such as hydrogen power, new materials, and innovative medicines.

National ministries and commissions have issued a number of supporting plans and policies to promote the improvement in hydrogen energy research and development, preparation and storage, transportation and application.

At present, China's annual hydrogen energy consumption is about 40 million tonnes, mainly in the industrial and chemical fields, and is expected to further expand to the fields of smelting, energy generation and construction, according to Xu Dongjie, deputy chief engineer at China Electric Power Planning & Engineering Institute.

Data from the National Energy Administration suggests that the country's hydrogen energy demand is expected to reach 130 million tonnes by 2060.