Boom! China Adds 333 Fuel Cell Electric Buses

[nationalize the fed]

Clean Technica | September 29th, 2015 | Tina Casey

Like the US, China has been slow to adopt fuel cell electric vehicles, but it looks like things are stepping up in a big way. The cities of Foshan and Yunfu are jumping into the lead with a $17 million order for 300 fuel cell electric buses, just announced by the Canadian company Ballard Power Systems through its Chinese licensee, Guangdong Synergy Hydrogen Power Technology Co., Ltd.



Last June, Bloomberg reported on another Ballard deal for 33 fuel cell modules for buses in Yunfu and another city, Rugao, and the company is also partnering up with the Tangshan Railway Vehicle Company to develop fuel cell modules for trams.

Fuel Cell Vehicles & China

So… that was fast. The only other big fuel cell EV news coming out of China this year was a three-car publicity tour staged by the state-owned auto manufacturer SAIC. However, there have been some signs of movement since China showcased a fleet of only 20 fuel cell cars and three buses for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Two years later, at the Shanghai World Expo, the country showed off 90 fuel cell cars, 6 buses, and 100 tourist vehicles, and our sister site Gas2.org has noted that fuel cell vehicles are routinely included in China’s tax breaks for green vehicles.

In 2012, our friends over at Fuel Cell Today took a close look at China’s R&D program for fuel cell electric vehicles and hydrogen in China and reached this conclusion:

“Financial support from the Chinese government is strong with fuel cells identified as a key future technology and funded accordingly. Chinese companies throughout the supply chain from catalysts to membranes and system integrators to end users are all driving fuel cell adoption leading China to become an international competitor.”

Speaking of hydrogen, the Fuel Cell Today report also dives into China’s clean energy investments, specifically wind and solar. That’s a key issue...snip
Read More: https://cleantechnica.com/2015/09/29/boom-china-adds-333-fuel-cell-electric-buses/

Tina Casey writes about Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
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Ballard Lands $17M Deal For Deployment of ~300 Fuel Cell Buses in China

• Largest ever global deployment of fuel cell buses
• Deal includes deployment of new 30kW & 60kW power modules
• Localization of module assembly, with recurring royalties
http://www.ballard.com/about-ballard/newsroom/news-releases/news09251501.aspx

International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy
An International Vision for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
http://www.iphe.net/

[Warpy]

1. Every little bit helps, their air is unbelievably foul

If they can come up with something besides coal for household cooking and heating, then they'll be on their way to breathable air.

It makes a difference to convert away from diesel. Here the buses have been converted to natural gas since this is a big producer area. While it's never pleasant to be suck in traffic behind a bus, at least these don't leave you in a cloud of nasty black smoke every time they roll forward a few feet.