The "hydrogen" power behind the ice and snow

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have the advantages of zero emission, zero pollution and strong endurance, which coincides with the concept of "Green Winter Olympics". It is estimated that during the entire Winter Olympic Games, the 515 hydrogen-fueled buses provided by BAIC Group have traveled a total of 1.3252 million kilometers, reducing carbon emissions by 751 tons.

As the flame of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which burned for 16 days, slowly extinguished, one warm scene after another was integrated into people's memories. As the only "double Olympic" city in Olympic history, Beijing has created more firsts – including hosting the first carbon-neutral Olympic Games.

Based on the concept of "green Olympic Games", the Beijing Winter Olympics have taken a series of positive measures to eliminate carbon footprint in the fields of electricity, construction and transportation. Among them, a large amount of investment in new energy fields such as hydrogen energy vehicles shows the thinking of low-carbon travel and green development in the future.

The "Beijing Winter Olympics Low Carbon Management Report" released before the competition pointed out that electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be promoted in various competition areas in accordance with the principle of "plain electricity and mountain hydrogen". According to the reporter's understanding, in the transportation service vehicles used in this Winter Olympic Event, energy-saving and clean energy vehicles accounted for 100% of passenger cars and 85.84% of all vehicles, the highest in the previous Winter Olympics.

Among them, during the Beijing Winter Olympics, more than 1,000 hydrogen energy vehicles were demonstrated and operated, and the vehicles were provided by BAIC Group, Toyota Motor, Foton Motor, Yutong Bus and other car companies, and equipped with more than 30 hydrogen refueling stations. It is worth noting that this is the largest centralized demonstration operation of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the world.

"Technology stars" overcome difficulties, and green transportation has become the highlight of the Winter Olympics

"The demonstration application of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles at the Beijing Winter Olympics is a good test for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and is conducive to improving product technology." However, at present, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have not yet reached the stage of large-scale and industrial development. Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the National Passenger Car Market Information Joint Association, told the Securities Times reporter that considering the cold climate and more complicated road conditions during the Winter Olympics, new energy vehicles often encounter more challenges.

Minus 30 degrees Celsius extreme cold low temperature start, minus 40 degrees Celsius extreme cold low temperature storage and automatic protection of shutdown, range of more than 400 kilometers... In the face of the challenge of severe cold, the Beiqi Foton Ouhui hydrogen fuel bus participating in the service of the Winter Olympic Games is confident enough. This confidence comes from a "technology star" - U-degree integrated thermal management technology.

Even in the face of extremely cold conditions of minus 25 °C or even minus 30 °C, these Beiqi Foton Ouhui hydrogen fuel buses with FCEV logos printed on them and shuttling back and forth between the closed loops of the Winter Olympics can achieve "full waste heat heating of the vehicle and maintenance of 18 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius" when the fuel cell power reaches 75%, ensuring that passengers sit warm and comfortable in each position.

It is understood that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have five major advantages: zero emissions, zero pollution, no noise, fast refueling, and strong endurance. Obviously, this coincides with the concept of the "Green Winter Olympics".

Taking Foton Ouhui BJ6122 hydrogen fuel bus as an example, a vehicle can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 57.86 kg per 100 kilometers. If each vehicle travels 400 kilometers per day, each hydrogen-fueled bus can reduce carbon emissions by 231.44 kilograms per day. It is estimated that during the entire Winter Olympic Games, the 515 hydrogen-fueled buses provided by BAIC Group have traveled a total of 1.3252 million kilometers, reducing carbon emissions by 751 tons.

According to the Data Collection and Monitoring Center of Fuel Cell Vehicles of Zhangjiakou Hydrogen Energy Research Institute, from February 4 to 20, The Zhangjiakou Race Area alone has accumulated 94.3 tons of hydrogen injection, reducing carbon emissions by 1414.5 tons, equivalent to the absorption of more than 68,000 trees.

Some analysts believe that as a big producer and sales country of new energy vehicles and a big producer of hydrogen, China is very motivated to seek breakthroughs in clean energy storage and transportation technology. According to media reports, through the deployment of hydrogen fuel, natural gas and pure electric vehicles in the competition area, new energy vehicles have taken on the heavy responsibility of transportation services, and have been praised by athletes from all over the world, making green transportation one of the highlights of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

The demonstration effect has gradually become prominent, and the trend of sustainable development has attracted attention

In addition to the Ouhui hydrogen fuel bus, the carbon reduction power of the 330 Beijing EU7 vehicles that were put into operation at the same time as the Winter Olympics connection operation cannot be ignored. According to data, during the Winter Olympics, Beijing EU7 has traveled a total of 107,980 kilometers, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 14.89 tons.

As the manufacturer and service guarantor of more than 800 new energy transportation shuttles, BAIC Group plans to achieve "765.89 tons of carbon reduction in 30 days" during the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. "This is the 'carbon neutrality' contribution of BAIC Group's Winter Olympic connecting vehicles, and it is also the latest achievement of BAIC's commitment to continuous green innovation." The relevant person in charge of BAIC Group told reporters that as of now, BAIC Group has invested billions of yuan in energy conservation and emission reduction work, and established a sound green management system for the whole life cycle of products.

In terms of carbon emission management, since 2013, BAIC Group has organized nine enterprises in Beijing to carry out carbon verification and carbon trading performance every year, and promote carbon reduction projects through market-oriented means. In the manufacturing process, BAIC Group has successfully completed the construction of 17 state-level green factories around the green manufacturing system, ranking first in China's automotive industry. "Facing the future, BAIC will continue to adhere to the concept of green and low-carbon development and add more greenery to the society."

As early as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, new energy vehicles such as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have appeared. However, the application of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and new energy vehicles at the Beijing Winter Olympics is not only larger in scale, but also more complete in related supporting facilities.

Some analysts believe that China's new energy technology route has been at the forefront of the world, pure electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cells complement each other, forming a comprehensive and reliable technical route. Among them, hydrogen energy has the advantages of abundant sources, wide range of uses, high calorific value, total weight and clean environmental protection, but it is currently constrained by infrastructure.

Previously, thanks to the policy heating up and market growth, The country ushered in a boom in the development of the new energy vehicle industry such as hydrogen energy.

According to incomplete statistics, as of now, more than 150 cities across the country have mentioned hydrogen energy development in the "14th Five-Year Plan". By 2025, more than 1,000 hydrogen refueling stations are expected to be built nationwide and more than 54,000 hydrogen-fueled vehicles will be promoted.

Researchers from various countries believe that over time, sustainability has become more and more important to the Olympic Movement, which is similar to the development direction of the automobile and mobility industries. Whether it is the demonstration application of new energy vehicles during the Beijing Winter Olympics, or the promotion of hydrogen energy commercial vehicles and related supporting facilities, it is still necessary to meet the market demand.

China Youth Daily, China Youth Network reporter Xu Yajie Source: China Youth Daily

Source: China Youth Daily Travel Weekly