Hyundai Rotem's hydrogen fuel cell tram wins iF Design Award

Hyundai Rotem is South Korea's first rail company to win a global design award, with its hydrogen fuel cell tram claiming the main prize in the product category of the iF Design Award 2023 in Germany.

Considered one of the world's top three design honors, the awards have around 130 design experts judge over 10,000 projects based on criteria like innovation, skills, functionality, aesthetics and social responsibility.

The award-winning tram started as a demonstration project in 2021 run by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and final development is expected by year's end. Hyundai Rotem said its model emphasizes not only design elements but also practicality considering passenger safety.

The driver's cab and front of the tram are designed to minimize injury in the event of a pedestrian collision and maximize the conductor's field of vision by reflecting the safety technical specifications of the STRMTG, France's national public transportation agency.

The daytime running lights on the front symbolize the scalability of hydrogen, and the two semicircles representing hydrogen molecules on the side emphasize the identity of the hydrogen fuel cell tram, which is considered a next-generation form of transportation.

Based on passenger flow, the interior design encourages smooth boarding and disembarking, and the surface-emitting direct lighting applied to the ceiling creates an indoor atmosphere different from that of conventional trams.

Through its award, Hyundai Rotem will publicize the positive social functions of hydrogen-powered trams, which can remove about 800 micrograms of fine dust per hour and produce 107.6 kg of clean air.

The tram is expected to raise overall quality of life with low-to-the-ground operation that guarantees mobility for people with lower access to transportation.

"We will unveil to the public in June our hydrogen fuel cell tram at the 2023 Korea Railways and Logistics Fair at BEXCO in Busan," a Hyundai Rotem source said. "We will do our best to help improve the domestic environment for transportation networks by smoothly mass-producing hydrogen fuel cell trams."

Write to Sungsu Bae at baebae@hankyung.com