Core Strength in Heavy Industry: Weichai's Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Leads Industry Development

Amid the rapid transformation of the global energy structure and the vigorous growth of the hydrogen energy industry, numerous striving forces have emerged within China's hydrogen sector, with Weichai Power standing out prominently. On March 21, 2021, The Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China approved the establishment of the National Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Center, with Weichai Power as the leading entity. In recent years, leveraging this innovative platform, Weichai Power has firmly grasped core hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Utilizing the "Hydrogen for All" technology demonstration project as a stage, Weichai Power has assumed the role of "chain leader" in the industry, supporting the hydrogen sector and driving the perfection and growth of the industry chain, thereby leading China's hydrogen fuel cell industry forward significantly.

Research and innovation thrive on breakthroughs in core technologies. Since the establishment of the National Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Center, its effective resource aggregation has significantly supported Weichai Power's technological advancement journey. Numerous key technical indicators now stand at the forefront internationally, establishing the enterprise as a "technical benchmark" in China's fuel cell industry.

Leveraging the demonstration project, the focus has been on the integrated development of modular and serial fuel cell engines, resulting in the successful creation of 5 hydrogen power systems ranging from 10 to 200kW. Notably, hydrogen consumption for buses is 4.45 kg per 100 kilometers, for 49-ton heavy-duty trucks is 8.81 kg per 100 kilometers. Moreover, the 80kW fuel cell engine was first used in port terminal vehicles, consuming 8.51 kg of hydrogen per 100 kilometers in actual operations, and achieving a first-failure mileage of over 18,000 kilometers.

Additionally, 5 high-power fuel cell thermal management systems, 5 electronic thermostats, 5 35MPa high-pressure hydrogen storage systems, and 1 remote emergency maintenance monitoring platform have been developed, which can support breakthroughs in key hydrogen power system technologies and facilitate the rapid development and application of related equipment technologies.

Furthermore, innovative breakthroughs have been achieved in the integrated control of new hydrogen-electricity hybrid power systems, earning the China Transportation Industry's Special Prize for Technological Invention.

The newly developed 300kW fuel cell engine took center stage at the 2024 Hannover Motor Show as the only 300kW high-power single system product exhibited. While international peers are still in the conceptual planning stage for 300kW systems, this engine allows China to lead the global hydrogen fuel cell industry in terms of power, efficiency, and operational temperature performance indicators.

As an industry "chain leader," Weichai Power deeply understands the importance of industry collaboration. Leveraging its technical advantages and the influential role of the National Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Center, the enterprise is comprehensively laying out the hydrogen fuel cell industry chain.

In the upstream sector of fuel cells, Weichai Power collaborates closely with key raw material suppliers to enhance the performance of critical materials, leveraging the R&D capabilities of the National Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Center in coordination with industry chain partners, ensuring that core technical indicators lead the industry. In the midstream sector, the focus is on the manufacturing of fuel cell systems and core components, with Weichai Power at the center attracting numerous supporting enterprises to create an industrial cluster effect, thereby accelerating technological iteration and large-scale production. Downstream, there is a vigorous expansion of application markets in collaboration with vehicle manufacturers to widely apply hydrogen fuel cell systems across a variety of fields, including buses, coaches, heavy-duty trucks, port terminal tractors, logistics vehicles, dump trucks, and forklifts.

Weichai Power and the National Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Center are actively involved in the development of industry standards for hydrogen fuel cells. With profound technical expertise and extensive practical experience, they have participated in drafting and revising several national and provincial standards related to hydrogen fuel cells. These standards cover essential areas such as fuel cell performance testing, system safety specifications, and hydrogen refueling station construction standards, contributing to the healthy and orderly development of China's hydrogen energy industry.