(Yicai Global) April 1 -- Weichai Holding Group, one of China's biggest engine manufacturers, has opened the world's biggest hydrogen fuel cell plant in its hometown of Weifang, Shandong.

The factory can produce 20,000 units a year, the company said in a statement yesterday. Weichai will deliver the engines to domestic vehicle makers who will use them in Weifang's public transport sector, it added. Construction began in 2018.

Weichao has built three skid-mounted hydrogen refueling stations and a 1,000 kilogram fixed hydrogen refueling station in Shandong, and has more than 200 hydrogen fuel cell buses running seven routes in Weifang, Liaocheng, Jining, Jinan and other cities in Shandong.

The company has a full set of research and development test benches for key fuel cell materials, single cells, cell stacks, engines, power trains and vehicles, according to the statement, and has the tools to evaluate complete fuel cell systems and vehicles.

Editor: James Boynton