Three Ministries Launch Hydrogen Pilot Program: 100,000 Fuel Cell Vehicles by 2030

Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), along with two other government departments, jointly issued a notice launching pilot programs for integrated hydrogen applications. The goal is to double the national stock of fuel cell vehicles by 2030 compared to 2025 levels, aiming for 100,000 units. These pilots will be implemented primarily at the city-cluster level over a four-year period, with central government funding provided through performance-based rewards—up to RMB 1.6 billion per city cluster. The notice requires pilot regions to promote large-scale hydrogen applications across multiple sectors, including transportation and industry, and to reduce the terminal price of hydrogen to below RMB 25 per kilogram, with competitive regions striving for RMB 15 per kilogram. By the end of 2025, China had sold nearly 40,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, built 574 hydrogen refueling stations, and achieved a daily refueling capacity exceeding 360 metric tons—ranking first globally. The policy encourages breakthroughs in core technologies related to hydrogen production, storage and transportation, and utilization, while emphasizing the avoidance of low-quality, redundant projects under the premise of ensuring safety.