Hyundai to supply 1,300 hydrogen buses in Seoul by 2026

Hyundai Motor Co., along with South Korean Ministry of Environment, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, SK E&S and Tmap Mobility, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for making Seoul as a leading city in hydrogen mobility, aiming to convert Seoul's city buses, airport buses and commuter buses into hydrogen ones.

Under this agreement, the Seoul city government plans to convert over 1,300 public transportation vehicles, including 300 airport buses, into hydrogen buses by 2026. Additionally, five dedicated bus charging stations will be established.

The Ministry of Environment has promised administrative and financial support for the conversion to hydrogen buses.

Hyundai Motor will supply low-floor and high-floor hydrogen buses, including airport buses, to support Seoul's goal of transitioning to hydrogen buses by 2026.

SK E&S will make efforts to ensure stable production and supply of liquefied hydrogen, as well as establish a charging infrastructure. Tmap Mobility will collaborate to accelerate the early conversion of buses, including airport buses, to hydrogen buses.

"We are continuously advancing the development of hydrogen commercial vehicles such as buses and trucks, and launching various lineups in the market," CEO of Hyundai Motor Chang Jae-hoon said. "We are promoting domestic production of hydrogen through the utilization of biogas for a circular hydrogen value chain." 

Hydrogen buses, spearheaded by Hyundai Motor, have a charging time of fewer than 30 minutes, shorter than electric buses, and a driving range of over 600 km, similar to internal combustion engine vehicles, making them suitable for public transportation buses.

In addition to city buses, hydrogen buses also contribute to the eco-friendliness of long-distance buses such as airport buses. Hyundai Motor has been supplying hydrogen buses to Seoul City as city buses since 2020 and plans to supply high-floor hydrogen buses as airport buses within this year.

Hyundai Motor plans to expand its production capacity to ensure a timely supply of hydrogen buses and to put more effort into research and development and technological innovation.

Alongside this, Hyundai Motor actively participates in the establishment of a domestic hydrogen ecosystem, including the construction of a clean hydrogen production facility utilizing bio-gas, with a capacity of 500 kg per day.

Write to Il-Gue Kim at black0419@hankyung.com