Three Ministries Launch New Hydrogen Pilot Policy: Target 100,000 Fuel Cell Vehicles by 2030, Aim to Cut Hydrogen Price to ¥15/kg

Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and two other government departments jointly issued the "Notice on Launching Pilot Programs for Comprehensive Hydrogen Energy Applications." The notice sets clear targets: by 2030, China aims to have 100,000 fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) in operation nationwide, with the average retail price of hydrogen reduced to below RMB 25 per kilogram—and as low as approximately RMB 15 per kilogram in some leading regions. The policy will implement pilot programs at the city-cluster level, focusing on diverse application scenarios including transportation, industry, maritime shipping, and aviation. It prioritizes the deployment of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and logistics vehicles powered by fuel cells, while also promoting green hydrogen as a replacement for conventional energy sources in sectors such as chemicals and metallurgy. As of the end of 2025, China had sold nearly 40,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and built 574 hydrogen refueling stations. Under the new policy, up to RMB 1.6 billion in funding will be provided through a "reward-instead-of-subsidy" mechanism to incentivize technological breakthroughs and business model innovation, accelerating the hydrogen industry’s transition from policy-driven to market-driven growth.