A project to develop hydrogen fuel cells in Eastern China has been launched.

China’s Ministry of Science and Technology aims to build a ‘hydrogen city’ Shandong Province’s Jinan.

It plans to advance research and development of core technology related to hydrogen, promote the application of hydrogen fuel cells in vehicles and push forward the development of a hydrogen-powered vehicle industry.

Shandong Heavy Industry signed agreements with Ballard Power Systems and Westport Fuel Systems from Canada to develop engines fueled by hydrogen and natural gas.

Subsidiary Weichai Power will use a ¥1.98 billion (£222m) to work with 12 other companies, as well as universities and research institutes, to improve the sustainability and adaptability of fuel cells.

The country plans to achieve the mass production of fuel cell vehicles by 2020.

Shandong Heavy Industry has recently announced it plans to develop and deploy 2,000 hydrogen fuel cell buses in China.