In 1979, he did his postgraduate study on experimental mechanics in Structural Theories Research Institute of Tongji University and received his master degree in 1981.

In 1985, he went to Germany as a visiting scholar and doctoral candidate of Department of Mechanical Engineering in Clausthal University of Technology and received Ph.D (Dr.-Ing.)

He theorized that China would never be able to catch up to foreign manufacturers in traditional vehicles, thus prioritizing new technologies would give the country a more equal-footing, while also curbing its dependency on oil.

[3] His proposal received the attention and support from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the State Economic and Trade Commission.

He also took the responsibility of major supervisor to handle the most demanding part in this project ---- the developing of fuel cell sedan, which deals with the most complicated technologies as well as the heaviest working load.

Wan was a member of the standing committee of the 10th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

[6] He was the first cabinet minister from a non-Communist party since the late 1970s when China launched its economic reform and opening-up drive.