China's hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle fleet expected to grow to 1 miln by 2035

China's fuel-cell vehicle fleet is expected to grow to 1 million by 2035 as the country is setting sight on wider commercial use of the green means of transportation.

The growth should be boosted by more stable and more expansive hydrogen supply as well as wider use of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in various business models, said industry insiders.

China should have more hydrogen fueling stations and their utilization rate should be higher, analysts said, adding that companies should also be encouraged to deploy more hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in their businesses, like those for ride-hailing and taxi services.

The growth in the green means of transportation can in turn encourage an eco-friendlier lifestyle and improve the country's transportation system, said Zhang Yanyi, director of the fuel cell division of the new energy test center under the China Automotive Technology and Research Center.

"This (the increase in hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles) means that the strategic emerging industry of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles obtains a milestone achievement, which is conducive to promoting green travel models and building a low-carbon transportation system," Zhang said.

China has already taken concrete steps to expand the commercial use of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles over the past few years.

Over 140 such vehicles have already been deployed in Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong Province, for sanitary and logistic use.

In Shanghai, auto giant SAIC Motor has been piloting large-scale hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle use since 2022.

Similar pilot programs are also taking place in north China.

A mine in Xilingol League of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is testing a heavy-duty loader powered by 36 hydrogen tanks.

The vehicle, driven by both hydrogen and electricity, can help cut more than 1,000 metric tonnes of carbon emissions a year. "The transporter can work better in open mines in north China, where winter is longer and extreme cold conditions are more frequent. Hydrogen fuel cells can work stably in cold, windy and snowy days to ensure consistent supply of energy. A hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle emits only water vapor while running and it is capable of working intensely for 20 hours non-stop a day," said Liu Xi, director of the Shengli Energy Electromechanical Information Center of the China Energy Group.

China's hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle fleet expected to grow to 1 miln by 2035

China's hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle fleet expected to grow to 1 miln by 2035

Residents in the northern Gaza Strip are struggling to deal with a water crisis stemming from Israel's "complete siege" of Gaza and its intensifying airstrikes.

According to an independent report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in September, the "water crisis" in Gaza is deepening due to limited natural water resources, water contamination, and the Israeli military siege. The report warns that if the provision of safe drinking water cannot be guaranteed in the region, diseases may spread, and water can serve as a weapon of war against civilians.

Access to clean water is severely restricted, with many residents relying on truck deliveries that now occur every four days. Youssef Abu Amireh, a local child, has to take on the burden of gathering water for his family, as most of them are injured in the previous Israeli siege.

"We have to collect water like this every day. We have 30 people, and I have to collect water from here or there every day. I am really exhausted. Sometimes there are too many people, and I can only collect a little bit of water before the truck drives away," said Amireh.

Distillation factories, a vital water supply in Gaza, have been forced to shut down due to power outages caused by Israel's blockade.

"Ever since the conflict happened, we have been facing difficulties producing freshwater. Continuous power cuts greatly disturbed our work. In the best situations, the factory can run six hours per day at most. In the past ten days, we completely stopped production due to a lack of fuel, which caused many health issues to people," said Muhammad Matar, who runs a seawater distillation factory in Al-Sahaba of Gaza City, which used to be a freshwater supply for around 210,000 residents.

According to a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) update, the daily water distribution in northern Gaza has plummeted to 638 cubic meters, compared to 380,000 cubic meters throughout Gaza before October 2023. Residents are still waiting for adequate water supply in thirst and desperation.

"Despite being patient, how long can we bear the situation? Till we all die of thirst? Or should we feed our children with seawater? We are now drinking salt water. Even though we survived warfare and bombing, we will die from water scarcity," said Hani Al-Kariri, a local resident.

Northern Gaza residents face severe water scarcity as Israeli siege continues