Loaded with laptops, auto components and low-risk chemical products, a fleet of 10 hydrogen-powered heavy trucks departed Chongqing for the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Monday, marking the launch of the first long-haul hydrogen transport route in western China.

Starting from the Chongqing Dry Port of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park in Shapingba District, the convoy traveled 1,150 kilometers through Guizhou province before reaching Qinzhou Port in Guangxi. From there, goods will be shipped to Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations.

As China's first cross-regional hydrogen freight route with extreme changes in elevation, the Chongqing-Guangxi corridor traverses challenging terrain marked by rapid altitude shifts and winding mountain roads. The route rigorously tests the trucks' ability to handle abrupt climbs and complex topography, local authorities said.

Hydrogen has emerged in recent years as a key green energy solution for long-haul logistics. Hydrogen-powered heavy trucks are rapidly replacing diesel counterparts, offering advantages such as zero emissions, extended range, three-minute refueling and reliable performance in low temperatures.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Initiative launched the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in 2017 to improve connectivity and trade between western China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

As of early March, the corridor's cargo services had connected 556 ports in 127 countries and regions. Under the corridor's development plan, an economical, efficient, convenient, green and safe trade route is expected to be built by the end of 2025.

The newly established Hydrogen Energy Corridor includes four refueling stations, forming an initial network to support short- and medium-haul hydrogen logistics across Chongqing, Guizhou, Guangxi and surrounding areas in Southwest China.

By 2027, more than 40 hydrogen refueling stations are expected to be operational along the route, supporting a fleet of over 1,500 hydrogen fuel cell trucks.

The initiative is projected to cut annual carbon emissions by more than 200,000 metric tons — the equivalent of planting 11 million trees — while supporting cross-border supply chains between western China and ASEAN markets.

"The new 'Hydrogen Corridor' reduces the entire door-to-port travel time to less than two days, saving about 30 percent of the travel time compared to rail-sea intermodal transport, meeting customers' logistics requirements for high-quality cargo," Liu Taiping, chairman of the New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co Ltd, said during the launch.

With its operational hub in Chongqing, the international trade corridor connects global ports through a network of railways, sea routes and highways that run through southern provincial regions including Guangxi and Yunnan. The cargo service now reaches 157 points in 73 domestic cities.

tanyingzi@chinadaily.com.cn