In Depth: In China, Hydrogen’s Star Rises

In the quest for cleaner energy sources, hydrogen’s star is rising.

China is just one of a growing number of jurisdictions where policymaker and investor interest in the flammable gas is heating up. Once tarnished by its association with the fiery Hindenburg blimp disaster that punctured the hubris of Nazi Germany, hydrogen has undergone something of a revival in recent years as a promising fuel for cells that power trucks, buses and even passenger cars. The advantage over their fossil-fuel-powered counterparts is distinct: they produce no tailpipe exhaust.