1000k Range – FAW TRUCKS Begins Liquid Hydrogen Truck Trials in China
Industry newsThe initiative is backed by the Panzhihua Municipal People’s Government and the Panzhihua Vanadium and Titanium High-Tech Industrial Development Zone. The truck was developed through a collaboration between FAW TRUCKS, the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology, and Dongfang Electric (Chengdu) Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd.
This trial marks an important milestone for liquid hydrogen technology in the heavy truck sector, shifting it from controlled laboratory environments into real-world operations as part of efforts to assess its commercial viability.
The demonstration truck is built on FAW TRUCKS’ J6P platform, a model with millions of kilometers of proven service history. It features a high-capacity onboard liquid hydrogen storage and supply system developed by aerospace engineers, paired with a high-output fuel cell system provided by Dongfang Hydrogen Energy.
FAW TRUCKS reports that the vehicle has already covered more than 8,000 kilometers during the trial. It has achieved a single-refueling driving range exceeding 1,000 kilometers—well above the typical 400–500 kilometer range of compressed-hydrogen heavy trucks currently operating in China.
Supporting the trial is a civilian liquid hydrogen refueling station in Madian, Panzhihua, which recently entered service. The facility is described as China’s first to operate a closed-loop system encompassing hydrogen production, storage, and refueling. During testing, the truck was refueled with liquid hydrogen at temperatures as low as –253°C, with the process reported to be safe and stable.
Panzhihua’s rugged mountainous landscape and complex road network have created a challenging test environment. Despite these conditions, the truck has demonstrated consistent and reliable performance, highlighting the technical compatibility of the vehicle platform with the liquid hydrogen system in real operating scenarios.
Industry analysts view liquid hydrogen as a promising option for long-haul, zero-emission heavy transport due to its higher energy density and suitability for extended-distance operations. The Panzhihua project is the first in China to complete the full progression from technology development to commercial-scale road validation for a liquid hydrogen-powered heavy truck.
FAW TRUCKS stated that it is working closely with partners to leverage operational data from the trial to help establish refueling protocols, safety standards, and technical specifications—key prerequisites for broader market adoption.
Going forward, the company plans to expand liquid hydrogen applications across the entire value chain, including production, storage, refueling, transport, and end use. It is also exploring related opportunities in areas such as green hydrogen–based metallurgy, vanadium and titanium materials, and hydrogen equipment manufacturing.
The project supports China’s national carbon reduction objectives, as the country continues to pursue alternative energy solutions for decarbonizing heavy-duty transportation and industrial logistics.