Hydrogen-powered vehicles have been rapidly rising in popularity in the past decade. While electric vehicles have taken center stage when it comes to alternative engine solutions in an energy-conscious world, hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle technology has also been making gains. This is largely due to the investment from automobile brands in Japan and China in pushing this technology as part of their alternative engine solution models. China, in particular, has seen hydrogen vehicles rise in popularity, exceeding global sales.
Hydrogen vehicles as a complement to electric vehicles
In terms of alternative engine solutions, electric engines have clear dominance on the road. This is due to several factors such as advances in battery technology, efficiency, perceived luxury, and accessibility. Electric engines also have the benefit that expanding infrastructure to support these engines has been growing, thanks to the government’s recognizing that electric engines are playing a key role in reducing the carbon emissions of the transportation sector.
While there is a clear preference for electrical passenger vehicles, hydrogen is being increasingly recognized for its potential in the heavy-duty transport industry. Not only do they tend to provide a longer range than electric vehicles, but they also charge significantly faster than electric engines. This is key for the commercial industry, as increased fueling time reduces efficiency in operations. Hydrogen has also been recognized as holding potential in reducing carbon emissions in both the maritime and aviation industries. Thus, hydrogen stands as a good complement to electric vehicles, ensuring that the transportation industry across all sectors can be transformed to greener solutions.
Hydrogen vehicles skyrocket in China
While electric vehicles are generally more popular than hydrogen vehicles worldwide, the reality is very different in China. According to data by SNE Research, the sales of hydrogen vehicles in China outnumbered the hydrogen purchases worldwide for nine months of 2024. Between January and September of 2024, 5,217 sales of commercial vehicles occurred in China. This outnumbers the export sales of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles by Japanese automakers Hyundai and Toyota, which had a combined total of 4,729. Globally, sales of hydrogen vehicles fell by 17.4%, producing 9,946 fuel cell-vehicle sales worldwide.
The market for hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles in China is rapidly moving towards the commercial truck industry. In 2024, commercial trucks made up 87% of all sales of hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles, which is a significant change from 2020, when coaches held a 90% market share. This shift highlights how China has recognized the potential fuel-cell vehicles hold when it comes to this industry, establishing a more carbon-neutral future.
“Development of hydrogen is an important move for energy transition and a great support for China’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals,” said Wang Xiang, the deputy director of the High Technology Department at the National Development and Reform Commission in 2022
China’s BYD competes with Tesla in the USA
Not only has China been advancing hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but its electric vehicles have also been increasingly dominating the global market. While American company Tesla has had a significant market share of global electric vehicle sales, China’s BYD is becoming an increasingly large competitor. Not only are BYD cars just as technologically advanced as Tesla’s, but they are also more affordable and come equipped with futuristic technology, which Tesla sells at an additional cost.
In the first three months of 2025, BYD has already sold over one million vehicles globally, which is already a 60% increase to last year. In August 2024, BYD led the global EV market with a 24.2% market share. Innovative technologies from the Chinese market are significantly pushing advancement and competition in the automobile sphere, a necessary incentive to encourage automobile companies to push towards more sustainable solutions.
Source: ecoticias.com
