On September 1st, the Tianjin TEDA Auto Forum, while seemingly calm and composed, subtly hinted at a tense atmosphere.
Around 3 p.m., Ouyang Minggao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor at Tsinghua University, took to the stage. His speech attracted the attention of many audience members.
"I heard that many leaders were talking about fuel cells this morning. Because the Premier went to Japan recently, and the Minister of Science and Technology went to Japan a couple of days ago, fuel cells have suddenly become popular again. Of course, another driving force is the increase in subsidies for fuel cells."
As the head of the overall expert group for the National Key Special Project on New Energy Vehicles during the 11th, 12th, and 13th Five-Year Plans, Ouyang Minggao's statement was naturally resounding. He bluntly stated: "We must rationally analyze the technology itself and not blindly follow the trend!"
In Professor Ouyang's presentation slides, it was stated even more explicitly: "We will carry on with pure electric drive to the very end!"
The debate over technological routes for new energy vehicles is not a new topic. However, with the favor shown by plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and pure electric vehicles (EVs) in terms of policy and market, fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) such as hydrogen and methanol were once relegated to the sidelines.
Now, FCVs are showing signs of resurgence, and China's new energy vehicle industry is likely to see another "debate over technological routes." However, after the choice of "left or right," the best opportunity may no longer exist, whether it's "overtaking on a curve" or "changing lanes to overtake."
Three ministries mentioned "hydrogen fuel".
On the morning of September 1, representatives from five ministries—the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Commerce—all delivered speeches at the TEDA Forum. Among them, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Finance all explicitly mentioned fuel cell vehicles, especially hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
This sends a strong signal: the country is not satisfied with its weak accumulation of fuel cell technology and will invest more resources in tackling key technological challenges.
"In terms of fuel cell systems, my country's research and development level on fuel cell stacks still lags significantly behind that of foreign countries," said Xu Chaoqian, deputy director of the Department of High-Tech Development and Industrialization of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Song Qiuling, deputy director of the Department of Economic Construction of the Ministry of Finance, also said: "There has been no fundamental breakthrough in power batteries, some key components are still subject to foreign control, the fuel cell vehicle industry chain is lagging behind in all aspects, and the product quality is also lagging behind the advanced level abroad."
In light of this, both the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology have identified fuel cell technology as one of the key areas of focus for their next phase of work.
Xu Chaoqian stated that one of the two key priorities for the Ministry of Science and Technology during the later stages of the 13th Five-Year Plan and the 14th Five-Year Plan will be to "focus on the research and development of key core technologies for hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles, as well as core technologies for hydrogen production, storage, and refueling, and continue to strengthen advanced power battery technology and next-generation power electronic device technology."
Qu Guochun, deputy director of the Equipment Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, also stated that in the future, they will "carry out demonstration operations of fuel cell vehicles, select regions with active governments and a good foundation in the fuel cell industry to carry out promotion and application demonstrations, connect key links in the industrial chain, and improve standards and systems."
Two visits to Japan
According to Ouyang Minggao's statement at the TEDA Forum, the industry's attitude toward fuel cells has "reversed" due to both increased subsidies and what seems to be related to the previous visit of the national leader to Japan.
On May 11 this year, Premier Li Keqiang visited Toyota's Hokkaido plant.
Toyota has concentrated its most advanced high-tech products and technologies at this plant in Tomakomai City. Premier Li Keqiang showed great interest during his visit to Toyota's MIRAI hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.
According to official media reports, Li Keqiang focused on understanding safety issues such as hydrogen compression and storage and the layout of hydrogen refueling stations.
At the time, some domestic analysts believed that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which had long been neglected in China, were poised for a turnaround. Then, at the end of August this year, Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang visited Japan again.
During his visit to Kyushu University, Wang Zhigang focused on the university's International Research and Education Center for Hydrogen Energy, and visited the 250-kilowatt large-scale fuel cell, the new type of household combined heat and power fuel cell, and the hydrogen refueling station, which are being demonstrated in practice. He also had in-depth exchanges with Japanese experts on hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, and hydrogen power generation.
Wang Zhigang expressed his hope that both sides would strengthen cooperation in hydrogen energy research and development.
The Chinese Consulate in Fukuoka announced that, "Following Premier Li's visit to Japan in May this year, this delegation from the Ministry of Science and Technology has sent a new signal for deepening cooperation between China and Japan in the energy sector. By exchanging and learning from Japan's advanced hydrogen storage technology, hydrogen refueling station layout, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle systems, my country's hydrogen energy industry will be greatly promoted."
With the Premier and ministers' visits to Japan, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles seem to have "seen the dawn" in the Chinese market.
Is it too late?
Japanese automakers, represented by Toyota, have historically shown little interest in developing plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicles.
Toyota believes that the ultimate form of alternative energy is hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, while hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric vehicles can serve as transitional modes before that.
