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A newly operational fuel cell bus in Shanghai.
September 27, Shanghai- Marking an important step forward in the commercial production and application of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) in China, the first fuel cell bus route in Shanghai was launched on September 27th with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).
During the launch ceremony, entitled Shanghai’s First Fuel Cell Bus Route and the Communication and Exchange Conference for the Demonstration Cities of the Fuel Cell Vehicles Commercialization Project, six hydrogen fuel cell buses were put into operation at the No 114 bus line in Jiading district. The fuel cell buses have Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) icons painted on the sides of the vehicles to reflect the importance of the development of the hydrogen industry in greening the transportation sector.
In his address to the ceremony, Mr. Zhixin Wu, Vice-General Manager of China Automotive Technology & Research Center, emphasized the serious environmental challenges and potential energy crisis faced by China.
Unlike fossil fuels that are harmful to the climate, soil, and human health, hydrogen, as a clean energy solution that can be produced from various renewable energy resources, has zero emissions after combustion and offers a sustainable and clean alternative to fossil fuels, which helps reduce our carbon footprint.
“Hydrogen fuel represents the future trends in the clean energy sector, and also indicates Shanghai’s environmentally friendly development direction,” said Mr. Pin Gan of the Shanghai Municipal Scientific and Technological Commission.
Mr. Yang Wan, Assistant Country Director and Head of Sustainable Development at UNDP China, indicated that the FCV project will help China achieve multiple SDGs, including affordable and clean energy and climate action.
As one of the five FCV demonstration cities facilitated by UNDP China, together with Beijing, Foshan City in Guangdong Province, Zhengzhou City in Henan Province, and Yancheng City in Jiangsu Province, Shanghai will carry out FCV operations on a large scale, in an effort to achieve green transportation in the future.
Implemented by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), UNDP China, and China’s MOST, the project aims to provide technical support, infrastructure construction, improve laws and regulations, help raise public knowledge and awareness, and promote the commercialization and industrialization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2020. Ultimately, a green, low carbon economy can be achieved by widely adopting environmentally sustainable strategies and technologies.
Moving forward, UNDP China will continue to promote the wider application of affordable and clean energy and contribute to protecting the environment and counteracting climate change.
