2022 Winter Olympics, Zhangjiakou Operates 655 Hydrogen Buses For Transportation And Logistics

Illustration of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. (Wikimedia Commons/N509FZ)

JAKARTA - If nothing goes wrong, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will start on February 4 next week. Being one of the developed countries, China is preparing a number of breakthroughs, including for transportation services during the competition.

With more than six years of preparation, President Xi is confident China will successfully host the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, underlining Beijing's commitment.

"We have been preparing for the Beijing Olympics for more than six years, everything is arranged. The competitions will start soon and they will be successful," China's foreign ministry quoted President Xi as saying, as reported by TASS.

"China will honor its commitment to presenting the world with an efficient, safe and beautiful Olympics," the statement continued.

One of the prepared breakthroughs is the use of environmentally friendly hydrogen buses. For example, Zhangjiakou City will deploy 655 hydrogen-fueled buses in the competition zone during the Olympics, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, has pledged to host a 'green' Olympics, using high technology to reduce carbon emissions.

Illustration of a hydrogen bus in Beijing, China. (Wikimedia Commons/N509FZ)

It also empowers all event venues in Beijing and the neighboring city of Zhangjiakou with cleaner energy such as natural gas, renewable energy and hydrogen.

Zhangjiakou, which will host events such as Alpine skiing and snowboarding, currently has two hydrogen plants with a combined production capacity of 6 tonnes per day, as well as eight hydrogen fueling stations.

By 2019, the city targets to build an annual hydrogen production capacity of 100,000 tonnes, or 27.4 tonnes per day.

Citing China.org.cn, these vehicles will be used in transportation and logistics during the Olympics. A hydrogen-powered bus can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 11.8 tonnes over 10,000 km.

The buses run smoothly at temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius, and their safety and reliability have been verified, according to the city's hydrogen and renewable energy institute.

Currently, there are 444 hydrogen fuel cell buses operating in Zhangjiakou, covering nine bus routes in the city. They have operated more than 21 million km and carried more than 62 million passengers.

Please note that the 24th Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing from February 4 to 20, 2022, while the Paralympics will take place from March 4 to 13.