China’s first hydrogen fuel cell hybrid locomotive rolled off the production line on January 27, 2021, marking a major step forward in hydrogen fuel cell technology for rail transit in China. The locomotive is jointly developed by Southwest Jiaotong University and China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation Datong Co., Ltd. and equipped with the fuel cell high power generating system designed by Professor Chen Weirong’s team at the University.

Environment-friendly, efficient and sustainable, hydrogen energy is regarded as the most promising clean energy in the 21st century. Hydrogen fuel cell, the optimum source of hydrogen energy, can generate power through electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen with no pollutants emitted, and has been successfully put into use in many different industries such as transportation, communication, aerospace, etc.

Ever since 2008, Professor Chen’s team has taken the lead in the application of hydrogen fuel cell technology in China’s railway transit industry and made substantial achievements in this field.