'Yangjae Hydrogen Charging Station' Doubles Charging Capacity... Reopening on the 1st of Next Month

Hydrogen Storage Capacity Increased from 120 to 350kg, Daily Rechargeable Vehicles from 24 to 70
Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, Checks Opening Preparation Status

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City has completed facility improvement work to more than double the charging capacity of the ‘Yangjae Hydrogen Charging Station’ and will reopen it on the 1st. Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, visited the Yangjae Hydrogen Charging Station on the morning of the 25th ahead of the reopening to check the preparation status.

According to Seoul City on the 25th, the Yangjae Hydrogen Charging Station, reopening on the 1st of next month, will increase its daily hydrogen storage capacity from 120 kg to 350 kg, and the number of vehicles that can be charged daily will expand from 24 to 70. Currently, there are three hydrogen charging stations operating in Seoul?Sangam, Gangdong Sangil, and the National Assembly?and with the opening of the Yangjae Hydrogen Charging Station, four stations will be operating simultaneously. This is expected to somewhat alleviate the inconvenience experienced by hydrogen vehicle users in Seoul due to the lack of charging infrastructure.

The Yangjae Hydrogen Charging Station was the first hydrogen charging station installed in Seoul for research purposes in 2010 and operated until 2019. Seoul City has been carrying out facility improvement work since December last year to fully upgrade it into a commercial hydrogen charging facility as part of the Seoul Green New Deal policy to expand the distribution of hydrogen vehicles.

Seoul City has ensured facility safety by receiving technical reviews, interim inspections, and final inspections from the Korea Gas Safety Corporation, a gas safety specialized institution, and by obtaining safety pre-consultations during the construction process. Going forward, the station will prioritize safety by conducting safety inspections at least twice a year, including internal and external checks during operation.

The Yangjae Hydrogen Charging Station will operate year-round from the 1st of next month, except on Chuseok and Lunar New Year holidays. It will be available for 14 hours daily (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.). The charging fee is 8,800 KRW/kg, the same as private hydrogen charging stations in Seoul. To minimize waiting times and prevent traffic congestion, the station will operate on a 100% reservation basis, and reservations can be made through the smartphone application ‘H2care’.

Before the official opening, Seoul City will conduct a three-day pilot operation from the 26th to the 28th to check service operations. During this period, the station will operate for 10 hours daily, and charging will be free of charge. The pilot charging period will also operate on a reservation basis, providing charging services for up to 50 vehicles per day.

Ahead of the reopening, Acting Mayor Seo conducted an on-site inspection, personally riding in a hydrogen vehicle and confirming the charging demonstration. He checked the safety of key facilities such as chargers, hydrogen compressors, storage containers, and hydrogen storage and transportation equipment, and received an explanation of future safety management plans from the operating company, Seoul Energy Corporation.

Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, said, “With the opening of the Yangjae Hydrogen Charging Station equipped with the latest facilities and more than double the charging capacity, we expect to somewhat relieve the inconvenience faced by hydrogen vehicle users due to the lack of charging infrastructure. Above all, we will operate with the highest priority on safety to alleviate citizens’ concerns about hydrogen charging stations.”