UNDP First Media Tour to Promote FCVs in China

China, 1-9 November—The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China arranged an FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicles) media tour with the aim of equipping the media with knowledge and information regarding hydrogen energy and the development status of FCVs in the country. By doing so, the media was not only able to promote UNDP’s FCV projects to the public, but also helped to catalyze the development of hydrogen energy and FCVs in the industry.  A total of 13 journalists from automobile and environmental media industries participated in the media tour through three cities –Zhangjiakou, Foshan and Shanghai. This was the first ever FCV media tour run by UNDP China. It consisted of multiple events including conferences, field visits and interviews with experts and citizens.

FCVs in China

China is one of the first countries to formulate a hydrogen energy development plan. Since 2003, UNDP China, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) have worked together to develop FCVs and utilize them to mitigate the impact of transportation on climate change. During the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and 2010 Shanghai World EXPO, a total of 9 hydrogen FCVs were used as shuttle buses to pick up visitors. Throughout these two international events, hydrogen FCVs recorded a total operating distance of 262,338 kilometers and 126,586 passengers. In August 2016, GEF, UNDP and MOST started the third stage of the project focused on commercializing FCVs in China.

Zhangjiakou: FCVs are ready for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games

Zhangjiakou, the site of the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympic Games, was the first stop on the FCV media tour. Journalists were informed about how FCV buses will be operated to pick-up and drop-off participants and visitors between the Olympic venues. Media members were brought to a hydrogen production plant and a refueling station to witness the hydrogen refueling process.

Foshan: Seeing is believing

In Foshan, media attended the 2018 Green Production Consumption Exchange Conference and the “Five Pilot Cities, One Target-Zero Emission in China” UNDP-GEF Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Roadshow. Through this event, the media was given a better understanding of the UNDP FCV project and the development status of FCVs in the five demonstration cities——Beijing, Shanghai, Foshan, Zhengzhou and Yancheng .

The tour also arranged for media to visit an FCV manufacturing plant located in Yunfu, 2 hours away from Foshan. By seeing the FCV assembly line firsthand, media gained knowledge of the structure of FCVs as well as the basic difference between Fuel Cell Vehicles and Electrical Vehicles.

Shanghai: Test-driving FCVs

As part of the media tour, media members had a chance to drive Fuel Cell Cars by themselves in Shanghai International Automobile City. “The most exciting part was getting to test-drive the FCVs”, said by one of the journalists. This activity was designed to showcase the potential of a clean transportation sector, and that the commercialization of FCVs is an important step for climate change mitigation.

In the future, UNDP will arrange similar events for the media and equip them with relevant knowledge and information. The media’s voice and influence in promoting FCVs will accelerate the development of hydrogen technology in China.

News Coverage

Xinhua News Agency: China Focus: Hydrogen fuels green future for China's transportation

Global Times: China Mulls use of Hydrogen Powered cars to beat Smog

People's Daily: Future with zero emissions: Hydrogen powered vehicles thrive in China