FAW Jiefang Launches 5,000-km Public-Road Test of 49-tonne Liquid Hydrogen Heavy-Duty Truck

Panzhihua, China — A 49-tonne liquid hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck jointly developed by FAW Jiefang, the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology and Dongfang Electric (Chengdu) Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd. has begun a 5,000-km public-road test in Panzhihua, Sichuan Province.

The trial, conducted in the Panzhihua National Vanadium and Titanium High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, marks the first systematic public-road test in China of a liquid hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck over a distance of this scale.

Liquid hydrogen offers high energy density and the potential for extended driving range, making it a promising technological pathway for hydrogen-powered heavy-duty commercial vehicles. However, long-term durability, reliability under varied operating conditions and compatibility between the vehicle chassis and liquid hydrogen powertrain remain key challenges to be addressed before wider commercial deployment.

The 5,000-km trial is designed to assess the vehicle under real-world operating conditions and address these industry challenges.

To support the test, FAW Jiefang has deployed a dedicated technical operations and maintenance team to Panzhihua for on-site support throughout the trial. The team is responsible for routine vehicle inspections and maintenance, data collection across different operating conditions, fault detection and troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance.

The test will focus on the truck’s driving stability, power output and energy consumption under complex and demanding road conditions. It will also assess the integration of the heavy-duty truck chassis with the liquid hydrogen powertrain, as well as the system’s engineering performance and long-term operational reliability.

The resulting real-world data will help address industry concerns about the durability of liquid hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks and provide a basis for further product development and potential commercial deployment.

FAW Jiefang has continued to invest in the development and demonstration of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks, working with partners in the aerospace and energy sectors to overcome technical and application barriers to liquid hydrogen-powered transport.

The latest trial represents an important step in moving the company’s liquid hydrogen truck technology from laboratory development towards real-world operating applications.

Following the trial, FAW Jiefang plans to use the test data to refine vehicle performance, advance technological improvements and accelerate the commercialisation of liquid hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles. The company aims to support the green and low-carbon transformation of China’s commercial vehicle industry and contribute to the development of the hydrogen energy sector.