Recently, the China EV100 Forum (2025) was grandly held in Beijing, focusing on the theme of "Strengthening Electrification, Advancing Intelligence, Achieving High-Quality Development." At the forum, Zhang Zhen, Executive Dean of the China EV100 Low-Carbon Integrated Development Research Institute, delivered a speech, deeply exploring the integrated development of green energy and new energy vehicles (NEVs).
Zhang Zhen pointed out that green electricity occupies a central position in the modern energy system. As electricity accounts for an increasing share of final energy consumption—projected to reach 50% by 2050 and 70–80% by 2060, with over 80% of this electricity provided by renewable sources—green electricity is undoubtedly the cornerstone of building a green energy system.
In his speech, Zhang Zhen also addressed practical challenges in the development of NEVs. In aging communities, early urban planning failed to anticipate the massive growth of NEVs and their charging demands, leading to grid constraints. Insufficient transformer capacity has become a key bottleneck for charging infrastructure. To address this, community smart microgrids have emerged as an effective solution.
Zhang Zhen further analyzed NEV ownership and energy consumption trends. By the end of last year, China’s NEV fleet exceeded 30 million units, with 70% being pure electric vehicles (PEVs). By 2030, NEV ownership is expected to reach 100 million units. Passenger vehicles will see rapid electrification, while commercial vehicles will adopt diversified low-carbon pathways, including fuel cells and methanol. Currently, electricity accounts for a large share of NEV energy consumption, but traditional grids still dominate.
Regarding fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), Zhang Zhen noted that their performance remains below expectations. Production and sales in 2024 declined, with limited scale. In commercial applications, hydrogen fuel still lacks cost advantages compared to diesel and LNG. Most vehicle hydrogen is grey hydrogen (from fossil fuels). However, with the promotion of demonstration city clusters, the green hydrogen share in vehicle fuel is expected to gradually increase.
Zhang Zhen emphasized that the growth of NEVs not only increases energy consumption but also creates massive demand for computing power. Therefore, improving the green energy proportion of NEVs is critical. To achieve better integration of green energy and NEVs, collaboration across source, grid, load, and storage systems is essential. This involves increasing the share of green electricity and green hydrogen, upgrading distribution networks, promoting smart charging technologies, and optimizing grid energy storage layouts.
In hydrogen energy development, despite high infrastructure costs and limited economic benefits, integrated "oil-gas-hydrogen-electricity" service stations are emerging as key hubs. Large-scale hydrogen pipelines, such as Sinopec’s West-to-East Hydrogen Transmission Project, signify progress toward stable hydrogen supply.
Improving hydrogen energy supply systems necessitates accelerating the construction of hydrogen highways and corridors to facilitate scaled hydrogen transportation applications. Multiple provinces have exempted hydrogen-powered vehicles from highway tolls, encouraging the deployment of hydrogen refueling stations along existing routes. Cross-provincial logistics are prioritized as a key hydrogen application scenario. The development of hydrogen pipelines, refueling stations, and hydrogen highways to create regional hydrogen corridors has become an industry consensus.
Finally, Zhang Zhen stressed that the development of green energy and NEVs is an inevitable trend. As electricity markets liberalize, NEVs will become critical for renewable energy utilization. By 2035, green electricity is expected to dominate NEV charging, accounting for 60–70% of energy consumption. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology will also emerge as a vital short-term energy storage solution.
To achieve better integration of green energy and NEVs, collaboration across source, grid, load, and storage systems is essential. This involves increasing the share of green electricity and green hydrogen, upgrading distribution networks, promoting smart charging technologies, and optimizing grid energy storage layouts.
In hydrogen energy development, despite high infrastructure costs and limited economic benefits, integrated "oil-gas-hydrogen-electricity" service stations are emerging as key hubs. Large-scale hydrogen pipelines, such as Sinopec’s West-to-East Hydrogen Transmission Project, signify progress toward stable hydrogen supply.
Improving hydrogen energy supply systems necessitates accelerating the construction of hydrogen highways and corridors to facilitate scaled hydrogen transportation applications. Multiple provinces have exempted hydrogen-powered vehicles from highway tolls, encouraging the deployment of hydrogen refueling stations along existing routes. Cross-provincial logistics are prioritized as a key hydrogen application scenario. The development of hydrogen pipelines, refueling stations, and hydrogen highways to create regional hydrogen corridors has become an industry consensus.
Finally, Zhang Zhen stressed that the development of green energy and NEVs is an inevitable trend. As electricity markets liberalize, NEVs will become critical for renewable energy utilization. By 2035, green electricity is expected to dominate NEV charging, accounting for 60–70% of energy consumption. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology will also emerge as a vital short-term energy storage solution.
Recommendations for NEV Development:
To achieve better integration of green energy and NEVs, collaboration across source, grid, load, and storage systems is essential. This involves increasing the share of green electricity and green hydrogen, upgrading distribution networks, promoting smart charging technologies, and optimizing grid energy storage layouts.
In hydrogen energy development, despite high infrastructure costs and limited economic benefits, integrated "oil-gas-hydrogen-electricity" service stations are emerging as key hubs. Large-scale hydrogen pipelines, such as Sinopec’s West-to-East Hydrogen Transmission Project, signify progress toward stable hydrogen supply.
Improving hydrogen energy supply systems necessitates accelerating the construction of hydrogen highways and corridors to facilitate scaled hydrogen transportation applications. Multiple provinces have exempted hydrogen-powered vehicles from highway tolls, encouraging the deployment of hydrogen refueling stations along existing routes. Cross-provincial logistics are prioritized as a key hydrogen application scenario. The development of hydrogen pipelines, refueling stations, and hydrogen highways to create regional hydrogen corridors has become an industry consensus.
Finally, Zhang Zhen stressed that the development of green energy and NEVs is an inevitable trend. As electricity markets liberalize, NEVs will become critical for renewable energy utilization. By 2035, green electricity is expected to dominate NEV charging, accounting for 60–70% of energy consumption. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology will also emerge as a vital short-term energy storage solution.