Honda China recently announced that they are collaborating with Dongfeng Motor Group to test the application of hydrogen fuel cells for use in commercial vehicles. Their testing ground will be in Hubei province, China.
The purpose of these tests is to verify whether hydrogen fuel cells can be used in light-duty commercial vehicles. According to Honda China, the test will measure the performance of trucks running on hydrogen fuel cells across the following metrics: adaptability to the environment, fuel economy, and durability under various driving conditions. Knowing how hydrogen-powered trucks perform under those situations will allow Honda to know if it can meet the standards that light-duty vehicles must always meet, which are reliability and durability. Both Dongfeng and Honda hope that these developments will contribute towards a future carbon-neutral society.
Aside from Honda, other automakers are developing fuel cell applications in commercial vehicles. Back in 2021, Hyundai Motor Group started the development of a plant in Guangzhou South China that can produce 6,200 fuel cell systems in its first year.
In the same year, signed a deal to enter a joint venture with energy supplier Guangzhou Hengyun Enterprises Group Co. and public transport operator Guangzhou Development District Transport Investment Group Co. This partnership will conduct sales and provide after-sales service for cars equipped with Hyundai’s hydrogen fuel cell system.
Toyota has also made moves to produce fuel cell systems for commercial vehicles. Chinese companies SinoHytec Co., China FAW Group, GAC Motor Group, Dongfeng Motor Group, and BAIC Group have an ongoing research and development partnership with Toyota to develop their own fuel cell systems.
