Top 7 China Hydrogen Fuel Cell Companies 2025
China's hydrogen fuel cell industry produced over 30,000 fuel cell systems in 2025, powering 20,000+ hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) including buses, trucks, and forklifts. The industry benefited from government subsidies of RMB 200,000-500,000 per vehicle and RMB 50 billion in hydrogen infrastructure investment. China now operates 500+ hydrogen refueling stations, the world's largest network, with fuel cell costs declining 30% year-over-year.
TL;DR: China produces 30,000+ fuel cell systems annually with 20,000+ FCVs on the road. SinoHytec leads with 200kW fuel cell stacks for heavy-duty trucks while Refine Group supplies 500+ fuel cell buses to 30+ Chinese cities.
Top Companies
SinoHytec (亿华通)
200kW heavy-duty fuel cellSinoHytec is China's largest fuel cell system manufacturer, producing 200kW+ fuel cell stacks for heavy-duty trucks and buses. Its fuel cell systems power 5,000+ commercial vehicles in China, with products also exported to Europe and Southeast Asia. SinoHytec achieved cost parity with diesel engines on TCO basis for fleet trucking.
Refine Group (重塑科技)
500+ fuel cell busesRefine Group is China's leading fuel cell system supplier for buses and commercial vehicles. It has supplied 500+ fuel cell buses to 30+ Chinese cities including Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou. Its 150kW fuel cell system achieves 30,000+ hours durability, meeting commercial fleet requirements.
Hygon (鸿芯科技)
Fuel cell stack technologyHygon develops and manufactures PEM fuel cell stacks ranging from 60kW to 300kW for various vehicle applications. Its proprietary catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) technology reduces platinum loading by 50% compared to previous generation stacks, significantly lowering system costs.
Chengdu Goldstone (攀枝花/金发科技)
Fuel cell material supplierChengdu Goldstone provides critical fuel cell materials including gas diffusion layers (GDL), proton exchange membranes, and bipolar plates. Its GDL products are used by 70%+ of Chinese fuel cell system manufacturers, reducing dependence on imported Japanese materials.
Shanghai Re-Hydrogen (上海氢电)
Hydrogen storage solutionsShanghai Re-Hydrogen develops high-pressure hydrogen storage systems (Type III and Type IV cylinders) for vehicles and stationary applications. Its 70MPa Type IV hydrogen storage cylinders achieve 6%+ gravimetric storage density, meeting China's most stringent safety standards for vehicle applications.
Sinomac (新源动力)
100kW stack mass productionSinomac, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, mass-produces 100kW fuel cell stacks at its Dalian facility. It has supplied over 8,000 fuel cell stacks for vehicles and stationary power applications, with particular strength in forklift and port equipment applications.
Hangzhou Heaven (合众新能源/氢能)
Fuel cell forkliftsHangzhou Heaven specializes in fuel cell systems for material handling equipment, supplying 2,000+ fuel cell forklifts to logistics companies including JD Logistics and SF Express. Its 30kW fuel cell system provides 6-8 hours of continuous operation with 3-minute refueling, replacing lead-acid battery forklifts in warehouses.
Comparison Table
| Company | Product | Power Range | Vehicles Powered | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SinoHytec | Fuel cell system | 60-240kW | 5,000+ | Diesel TCO parity |
| Refine Group | Bus fuel cell | 80-150kW | 500+ buses | 30,000h durability |
| Hygon | Fuel cell stack | 60-300kW | 2,000+ | 50% less platinum |
| Chengdu Goldstone | Fuel cell materials | N/A | 70%+ supply chain | GDL localization |
| Shanghai Re-H2 | H2 storage | 70MPa cylinders | Various | 6%+ gravimetric |
| Sinomac | 100kW stack | 80-120kW | 8,000+ stacks | CASI affiliation |
| Hangzhou Heaven | Forklift FC system | 30-50kW | 2,000+ forklifts | Warehouse logistics |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hydrogen vehicles are in China?
China has 20,000+ hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on the road as of 2025, including 10,000+ buses, 5,000+ heavy-duty trucks, 2,000+ forklifts, and 3,000+ other vehicles. The government targets 100,000 FCVs by 2030 and 1 million by 2035. Heavy-duty truck applications are growing fastest, driven by long-range requirements where batteries are less suitable.
What is the cost of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in China?
Hydrogen fuel cell buses in China cost RMB 1.5-2M per unit (after subsidies), compared to RMB 1-1.5M for battery electric buses and RMB 800K for diesel. Fuel cell trucks cost RMB 2-3M. Total cost of ownership (TCO) has reached parity with diesel for heavy-duty fleet applications, though upfront costs remain higher. Fuel cell system costs have declined to RMB 1,000-1,500/kW, down from RMB 5,000/kW in 2020.
How many hydrogen refueling stations are in China?
China operates 500+ hydrogen refueling stations as of 2025, the world's largest network. Stations are concentrated in Guangdong, Shanghai, Beijing, Shandong, and Sichuan provinces. China targets 1,000+ stations by 2030. Green hydrogen production is also scaling, with 5 million tonnes/year electrolyzer capacity under construction.
What is China's hydrogen refueling infrastructure plan?
China aims to build over 1,000 hydrogen refueling stations by 2030, with concentrations in the Greater Bay Area, Yangtze River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Sinopec leads construction, having built over 100 stations using its existing gas station network for co-location.
How do Chinese hydrogen fuel cell costs compare globally?
Chinese PEM fuel cell stacks have fallen below 1,000 RMB/kW in 2024, roughly 60% cheaper than imported equivalents. This cost advantage comes from domestic membrane electrode assembly production, reduced platinum loading, and large-scale manufacturing by companies like Sinosynergy and Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies.