The Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone will take the lead in the development of hydrogen energy in the city of Shanghai in East China, local media reported.

Shanghai-based SAIC Motor – the largest automaker in China – recently released a plan to deploy at least 750 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Lin-gang in the next three years, which is half the area's target of having 1,500 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in use by 2025.

By 2022, Lin-gang will reportedly fully promote the utilization of fuel cell vehicles in medium-volume public transport and by 2025 – with the target of 1,500 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles being met – 14 hydrogenation stations will be operating and the annual supply of hydrogen there is projected to be 14,000 tons or more.

Lin-gang is understood to also be an important area for Shanghai's intelligent driving demonstration operations. In 2019, SAIC's heavy smart truck commenced unmanned driving between Donghai Bridge and Yangshan Deep Water Port.

According to SAIC officials, in 2020 the total distance traveled by its heavy smart trucks had exceeded 420,000 kilometers, while 21,000 TEUs, or twenty-foot equivalent units – the standard measure for counting containers – were transported during their trial operations.

The company said by 2025, its heavy smart trucks will attain large-scale commercial operations, with the fleet achieving annual transport capacity of 1 million TEUs.