[2020 Green Mobility Awards] Jeong Seung-il, Vice Minister of Industry: "Korea's Hydrogen Cars Will Also Develop Infrastructure... 160 Charging Stations by the End of This Year"

On the 29th, award recipients and key guests are posing for a photo at the '2020 Korea Green Mobility Awards' hosted by Asia Economy at the Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. From the left, counterclockwise: Jeon Sun-il, Executive Director of Hyundai Motor Company; Choi Young, Executive Director of POSCO; Lim Soo-gil, Vice President of SK Innovation; Lee Sang-tae, EV Project Leader of Global Business Development Division at Renault Samsung Motors; Kim Byung-soo, Team Leader of Korea GM; Kim Sung-soo, Executive Director of Hyosung; Lee Dong-gyu, Vice President of Kakao Mobility; Chung Man-ki, President of Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association; Jung Seung-il, Vice Minister of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; Choi Young-beom, President of Asia Economy; Park Kwang-seok, Director of Planning and Coordination Office at Ministry of Environment; Kim Pil-soo, Professor at Daelim University. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government has once again declared its commitment to firmly establish not only hydrogen vehicle sales but also key infrastructure such as charging stations.

On the 29th, Jeong Seung-il, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, made this announcement while attending the '10th Korea Green Mobility Awards' hosted by Asia Economy and sponsored by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Environment.

Vice Minister Jeong stated the premise that future cars will be represented by eco-friendly and autonomous vehicles. He emphasized that the government's vision and strategy for future cars include a strong determination to properly build infrastructure related to eco-friendly vehicles.

The goal is to "make it possible to reach a hydrogen charging station within 20 minutes anywhere." Vice Minister Jeong announced plans to establish 10,000 electric vehicle charging stations by 2022. For hydrogen vehicle charging stations, 160 locations are to be secured by the end of this year.

Vice Minister Jeong said, "We will increase the electric vehicle charging infrastructure to a number similar to the 11,000 fossil fuel vehicle gas stations," and added, "For hydrogen vehicles, more than 80 stations will be supplied this year, reaching about 160 stations by the end of the year."

Plans are also in place to properly establish infrastructure for autonomous vehicles by 2024. If the industry achieves commercialization of 'Level 4' autonomous vehicles by 2024, the government will establish five key infrastructures: 5G, communication networks, road traffic tariff systems, road traffic environment maintenance, and three-dimensional 3D maps.

Vice Minister Jeong said, "When future cars such as autonomous and eco-friendly vehicles enter our lives, five issues?traffic congestion, traffic accidents, pollutants, delays in transportation services, and barriers to transportation services?will decrease, enriching our lives," and added, "I believe the automotive industry will realize that dream, and I thank them in advance."