Shanghai (ZXZC)- Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. (“King Long”), a leading Chinese bus manufacturer, announced earlier this week it has signed an agreement with Dongfang Boiler Group Co., Ltd. (“DBC”) to form a strategic cooperation on hydrogen fuel business.

King Long's fuel cell bus; photo credit: King Long

Under the new partnership, both parties will make joint efforts to promote the pilot applications of hydrogen fuel cell products and build a “vehicle-station” integrated platform for fuel cell vehicles based on the industry's new demands, according to King Long's press release.

The cooperation will leverage King Long's advantages in vehicle R&D, manufacturing, and smart operation, and DBC's technical insight in the field of fuel cell and experience in operating hydrogen refueling stations.

King Long said it has regarded hydrogen fuel cell vehicle as one of its main development directions. On April 26, 2022, the bus manufacturer and Xiamen University celebrated the unveiling of a joint innovation R&D center, which is dedicated to building a technical R&D system in the hydrogen fuel domain.

DBC is a principal subsidiary of Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC), a Chinese state-run manufacturer of power generators and the contracts of power station projects. Aiming to become an integrated solution provider for domestic hydrogen energy applications, it has made layouts in hydrogen production, storage, transportation, refueling, power generation, and other sectors.