Brazil's First Hydrogen-Powered Heavy Truck in Operation! Vision Motor's "New Long March 1" Initiates Zero-Carbon Transportation in South America

In mid-August, a "New Long March 1" hydrogen-powered heavy truck, adorned with the emblems of China and Brazil, slowly entered a logistics park in São Paulo State, Brazil. This 49-ton tractor, powered by a core system from Visionary Energy, is not only the first hydrogen-powered heavy truck to hit the ground in South America but also marks the official entry of Chinese hydrogen technology into the Brazilian market.

Customized for Specific Scenarios

As a flagship product jointly developed by Great Wall Commercial Vehicles and Visionary Energy, the "New Long March 1" has been deeply optimized for medium- to long-distance heavy haulage in Brazil: equipped with a 110kW fuel cell system and a 35MPa hydrogen storage system, it can be refueled with 12 kg of hydrogen in just 10 minutes, offering a driving range exceeding 500 kilometers, with hydrogen consumption below 10 kg per 100 kilometers. To address the local humid and hot climate, the team specifically enhanced the cooling system, ensuring continuous operation at 40°C for 12 hours without performance degradation. Previously, this vehicle had achieved operational scale of 300 units in domestic steel and port scenarios, cumulatively reducing emissions by over 20,000 tons, verifying its reliability under complex conditions such as starting at -30°C and climbing hills at high altitudes.

A Two-Year Journey Reaches Its Destination

This delivery stems from the Great Wall Group's deep strategic layout in Brazil. Following a field trip by Brazilian Vice President Alckmin to the Visionary Energy Hydrogen Industrial Park during his visit to China in 2024, both parties accelerated their technical collaboration: through a technology roadshow at the SAE Brazil exhibition, signing a hydrogen memorandum with São Paulo State, they ultimately targeted Brazil's annual demand for over 1 billion mt of road freight. "We have specially adapted to utilize by-product hydrogen from ethanol production in Brazil, making the operating cost per kilometer 15% lower than that of diesel vehicles," revealed a Visionary Energy representative in Brazil. The first vehicle is expected to be deployed on an iron ore transportation route in September, collaborating with the University of São Paulo to conduct liquid hydrogen refueling tests.

From Single Vehicle to Ecosystem: The "Brazilian Model"

Visionary Energy's ambitions extend beyond single-vehicle deliveries. Currently, in collaboration with the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development, plans are underway to construct three hydrogen refueling stations in São Paulo State, while simultaneously advancing projects for hydrogen-powered ships and combined heat and power (CHP) systems — the former addressing the zero-carbon needs of Amazon River shipping, and the latter developing distributed energy systems using retired stacks from hydrogen trucks. This dual-driven approach of "transportation + energy" replicates the successful model of "steel logistics + hydrogen-powered heavy trucks" in China, such as the 200-unit order for Tangshan Port in 2023, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 10,000 tons annually, providing a zero-carbon template for Brazil's key industries like steel and mining.

A "Chinese Solution" for Zero-Carbon Transportation

As the hydrogen engine of the "New Long March 1" roars across the Brazilian plateau, it not only carries the mission of transporting iron ore but also embodies the shared exploration of a green future by China and Brazil. This zero-carbon revolution, driven by Chinese technology, is writing a "South American chapter" in the energy transition of global emerging markets.