World’s largest hydrogen fuelling station launched in Shanghai

SAIC Motor and Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park have jointly launched a hydrogen fuel cell car refuelling station, which is currently the largest and highest-level of its kind in the world.

The Chinese auto maker has developed three types of new energy vehicles – electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs)– and mastered several FCV core technologies.

The company has participated in the formulation of 15 national standards on FCV and is the first Chinese auto maker to have achieved the commercial application of hydrogen fuel cell in passenger cars and commercial cars.

SAIC Motor and its subsidiaries reached an agreement with Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park in January 2018 to jointly promote hydrogen FCV commercial operations, and build related infrastructure in the park.

The launch of the refuelling station marked an important achievement for both parties and will accelerate the commercialisation of hydrogen FCVs and develop Shanghai into a leading centre of FCV innovation and production.

The hydrogen refuelling station can support the pilot operation of 20 SAIC hydrogen FCVs in the park and provide refuelling services for commercial purposes.

The 8,000-square-metre station has the capacity to supply two tons of hydrogen every day, and can refuel vehicles with compressed hydrogen at a pressure of 35MPa and 70MPa.

In addition to hydrogen refuelling, the station also supports the filling of torpedo-like hydrogen tanks, as well as FCV maintenance and battery charging.

Notably, the station uses the park’s hydrogen by-product as its hydrogen source, achieving resource recycling and contributing to the recycling economy of Shanghai.

A hydrogen FCV substitutes petroleum with hydrogen as its fuel, and is powered by a fuel cell instead of an engine. Hydrogen reacts with oxygen in the fuel cell to produce electricity and pure water.

Compared with traditional engines, hydrogen fuel cells are more efficient in energy utilisation, more environmentally friendly and more secure.

As the forerunner of hydrogen fuel cell technologies, SAIC Motor has made remarkable breakthroughs thanks to its persistent efforts since 2001. It has owned 350 related patents, and participated in formulating 15 national standards on FCVs.

In June 2018, SAIC Motor set up Shanghai Hydrogen Propulsion Technology (SHPT) to provide the auto industry with fuel cell products and services.

The SAIC Maxus G20FC hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is the world’s first fuel cell multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). It uses a third generation fuel cell system, the latest technology developed by SHPT, and pioneers the use of a 70MPa hydrogen tank in China.

With its cell stack power reaching 115kW and power density reaching 3.1kW/L, the car can start at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees while maintaining world-class overall performance.

Several of SAIC Motor’s car models made an appearance at the station’s launch ceremony, including the Maxus G20FC hydrogen fuel cell MPV, Maxus FCV80 fuel cell wide-body light passenger vehicle, Roewe 950 fuel cell sedan, and Sunwin fuel cell bus, which represent some of the company’s achievements in FCVs.

SAIC Motor will continue to push forward the independent R&D of hydrogen fuel cell technologies and accelerate the exploration of new energy applications with partners, so as to promote high-quality development through innovation and contribute to the city’s mission of building a global scientific and technological innovation hub.