Recently, the 8.5-meter hydrogen fuel cell city bus jointly developed by Hunan Zenpon Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. and Geely Sichuan Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd. was officially included in the 395th batch of the MIIT’s Catalogue of Vehicle Manufacturers and Products. The certified model number is DNC6857FCEVGS1, marking a significant milestone in their cooperation in hydrogen-powered transportation.

Figure 1: Public Notice of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles in the 395th MIIT Batch

Meanwhile, the project was also listed in the “Low-Carbon Hydrogen Application Scenarios in Hunan Province”, becoming a key demonstrative case for hydrogen-powered transportation in the province. Centered around building a "safe, efficient, intelligent, low-carbon, and fully integrated" hydrogen transportation system, this project achieves systematic innovation across multiple dimensions, including technology, operation, and business models.

Figure 2: Hunan Province Low-Carbon Hydrogen Application Scenarios Announcement

Key highlights of the bus model include:

1. Industry-leading safety: Equipped with six high-pressure hydrogen safety designs and certified to ISO 26262 ASIL-D, the vehicle operates reliably in extreme environments from -30°C to hot and humid regions.
2. Lightweight and high efficiency: The overall vehicle weight is reduced by 15%, hydrogen consumption is reduced by 20%, and energy efficiency is significantly improved.
3. Smart energy management: AI and 5G-enabled dynamic energy management improves overall efficiency by 12%, reducing operational costs.
4. Digital operations platform: A full-lifecycle digital management system ensures a predictive maintenance accuracy rate of up to 92%, enhancing reliability.
5. Green hydrogen sourcing: By utilizing industrial by-product hydrogen and promoting the construction of integrated oil-hydrogen refueling stations, hydrogen costs are reduced by 35%.
6. Innovative business model: The "mileage leasing + hydrogen cost separation" mechanism eases the upfront financial burden on public transport companies and accelerates deployment.

Figure 3: Public Details of the Submitted Bus Model

In parallel, Zenpon Hydrogen, in collaboration with State Grid Hunan Electric Power Research Institute and State Grid Zhuzhou Power Supply Company, successfully launched the “Green Gas-Power Coupled AC/DC Microgrid Demonstration Project”, which was also included in the provincial low-carbon hydrogen scenario list—highlighting the strategic importance of hydrogen-electricity integration in energy system transformation.

This project integrates substations, photovoltaic stations, data centers, hydrogen-electric hybrid energy storage stations, and EV charging stations to form a “hybrid AC/DC microgrid cluster.” It achieves full-chain zero-carbon operation through “green power-based hydrogen production – hydrogen storage – hydrogen power generation – multi-energy synergy,” featuring the following innovations:

1. Anti-fluctuation PEM hydrogen production: Electrolyzers are directly connected to volatile solar power sources, improving efficiency and lowering hydrogen production costs.
2. Long-duration hydrogen energy storage: A 660L ammonia storage tank enables 24-hour power supply, bridging the gap left by short-duration lithium battery storage.
3. Integrated multi-station energy service: A “five-in-one” smart energy hub that combines power supply, computing capacity, hydrogen storage, and EV charging through compact spatial design and functional synergy.

Figure 4: Hydrogen-Electric Coupling System

The core hydrogen-electric coupling fuel cell system was independently developed by Zenpon Hydrogen. It integrates an EMS energy management system and a PCS grid-connected control cabinet, enabling bidirectional electricity-hydrogen conversion and grid interaction. The system includes an intuitive HMI dashboard that provides real-time visualization of equipment status and performance indicators.

The hydrogen-electric coupling solution offers superior stability and flexibility in the energy domain, enabling more efficient and agile energy dispatching. Unlike traditional fossil-fuel-based or battery-only storage, hydrogen production via electrolysis powered by renewable electricity emits near-zero carbon.

Amid the global shift toward clean energy, the widespread adoption of such systems not only reduces reliance on imported fossil fuels and enhances energy self-sufficiency and security, but also provides powerful support for achieving carbon neutrality and building a zero-carbon society.

Looking ahead, Zenpon Hydrogen will continue collaborating with upstream and downstream partners to drive innovation in fuel cell technology and integrated energy systems, accelerate the integration of hydrogen transportation and clean energy, and contribute to China’s green and low-carbon transition with steady momentum.