Chongqing - Amid the global green manufacturing shift, China's southwestern metropolis is pursuing sustainable development, as New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), hydrogen energy, fossil fuel and waste recycling industries are innovating for cleaner operations.
NEVs are a major segment of the global green energy market. According to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), European electric vehicles produce 73% fewer greenhouse gas emissions over their entire lifecycle than conventional internal combustion vehicles.
China’s NEV market has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Data from the China Machinery Industry Federation show that in 2025 H1, China’s NEV market penetration rate ( the percentage of new customers purchasing NEVs instead of fuel cars) reached 44.3%, a record high for the period. According to the Chongqing Automotive Commercial Association, NEV penetration in Chongqing reached 54.3%, 10% above the national average.
In Chongqing Shapingba District, an NEV industrial cluster is taking shape around Seres’ smart factory. In 2024, Seres sold 427,000 NEVs, a year-on-year increase of 182.8%, with unit carbon intensity declining 16.9%. NEVs accounted for more than 93% of the company’s 145.2 billion yuan (USD 20.28 billion) revenue.
Seres emphasizes low-carbon vehicle design. Under winter heating conditions, the new dual-layer air conditioning system consumes 30%–40% less energy than conventional systems. Focusing on vehicle lightweighting, the premium model Aito M9 reduces 212 components and 1,440 connection points, cutting material use and production steps at the source.
Green energy is also widely applied in production. Seres has established an 18,800-square-meter building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) project, generating 15.84 million kWh annually, saving 5,070 tons of standard coal and reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 13,284 tons. Energy consumption per vehicle decreases by 4% annually, while waste treatment and pollution control rates reach 100%.
Supporting companies in the Seres supply chain also prioritize green production. Zhao Wangang, General Manager of Toupu Chassis Systems (Chongqing) Co., Ltd., located near Seres’s factory, said the company began operations in 2023, producing lightweight chassis modules using integrated die-casting technology. The process reduces product weight by over 30% and lowers energy consumption by 8%–10%.
In the advanced energy sector, Chongqing’s hydrogen industry is gaining attention. Bosch, a global technology leader, has established operations in Chongqing Jiulongpo District, producing four hydrogen power modules for commercial vehicles such as heavy-duty trucks and cold-chain logistics vehicles. Using fuel cell testing systems, Bosch simulates complex conditions, including high-altitude environments, to ensure full lifecycle reliability of hydrogen systems.
Vehicles equipped with Bosch hydrogen power systems are now deployed in 18 provinces and municipalities across China. Its hydrogen fuel cells range from 80 kW to 300 kW, with the 300 kW system being the country’s first mass-produced high-power module, applied to 49-ton heavy trucks in extreme environments.
Hydrogen is competitively priced in Chongqing, at approximately 3.5 USD per kilogram, and hydrogen vehicles enjoy certain traffic advantages. Chongqing is building a full-chain hydrogen industry and promoting non-fossil energy development, with renewable energy accounting for 46.5% of installed capacity.
Calysseo employs a unique process using natural gas as the sole carbon source and energy input to produce single-cell protein through microbial fermentation, primarily for aquafeed. (Photo/Li Yuheng)
Fossil energy is often seen as incompatible with sustainability, yet Chongqing companies are adopting innovative approaches for greener use.
In Chongqing Changshou District, Calysseo (Chongqing) Co., Ltd., a foreign-invested enterprise, employs a unique process using natural gas as the sole carbon source and energy input to produce single-cell protein through microbial fermentation, primarily for aquafeed.
Xiong Weijiang, manager of the company’s Health, Safety, and Environmental Department, said the enterprise’s annual output reaches 20,000 tons—equivalent to the soybean yield from 100 square kilometers of farmland or the fishmeal protein from 40,000–60,000 tons of marine fish.
Xiong added that compared to the direct combustion of natural gas, the process reduces CO₂ emissions by about 40%. The liquid by-product, rich in nutrients, is recycled into the fermentation process, generating almost no wastewater.
Beyond energy, Chongqing is also advancing waste reuse, giving new value to the city’s waste.
The plant defies traditional expectations at Chongqing Conch Cement Co., Ltd. in Zhong County, surrounded by greenery and fresh air. Vice General Manager Wang Qingmin noted that in spring, 3,000–4,000 egrets nest and feed on-site.
This environment reflects the company’s ongoing environmental investments. Conch Cement has invested 200 million yuan in environmental protection, establishing a solid waste recycling system to process municipal waste.
Kitchen waste undergoes biochemical treatment and high-temperature incineration, recovering 0.63% scrap iron, 6.46% residue for cement production, 6% oil for industrial use, and 23% organic fertilizer, achieving over 95% resource utilization efficiency.
To date, Conch Cement has processed 570,000 tons of municipal waste and 40,000 tons of kitchen waste in Zhong County, reducing landfill use by 1,200 acres, saving 20,000 tons of coal annually, and producing thousands of tons of organic fertilizer.
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