Hyundai Motor Company Signs MOU with Ministry of Environment and Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Region to Expand Hydrogen Bus Deployment

Promotion of Annual Supply of 100 Hydrogen Buses by 2025
High-Floor Hydrogen Bus Pilot Operation Project Also... Deployment of Intercity and Metropolitan Buses

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Je-hoon] Hyundai Motor Company is strengthening cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and relevant local governments to expand the supply of hydrogen buses within the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) hydrogen economy zone.

On the 19th, Hyundai Motor announced that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the expansion of hydrogen bus supply in Bu-Ul-Gyeong with the Ministry of Environment, Busan Metropolitan City, Ulsan Metropolitan City, Gyeongsangnam-do, Gimhae City, and the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Bus Transportation Business Association at the Ice Square Hotel in Gimhae, Gyeongnam.

The signing ceremony was attended by Yoo Won-ha, Head of Hyundai Motor's Domestic Business Division; Han Jeong-ae, Minister of Environment; Kim Yoon-il, Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs of Busan; Song Cheol-ho, Mayor of Ulsan; Ha Byung-pil, Acting Governor and Deputy Governor of Gyeongnam; and Heo Seong-gon, Mayor of Gimhae.

According to the agreement, the Ministry of Environment and each local government will promote the supply of more than 100 low-floor hydrogen buses, the 'Elec City FCEV,' annually by 2025. Hyundai Motor will support this process by providing additional incentives such as price discounts.

A pilot operation project for Hyundai Motor's high-floor hydrogen bus, scheduled to be launched this year, is also planned. Hyundai Motor will operate the dedicated long-distance hydrogen bus on regional wide-area and intercity bus routes within the Bu-Ul-Gyeong area for about a month in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Bu-Ul-Gyeong to accumulate data for product improvement.

In addition, the parties agreed to continue broad cooperation related to revitalizing the hydrogen ecosystem, including discussing infrastructure construction plans in the Bu-Ul-Gyeong region. A Hyundai Motor official stated, "We initiated this MOU to provide more provincial and city residents with eco-friendly transportation means through cooperation with the Bu-Ul-Gyeong region, which plays a leading role in hydrogen bus supply," adding, "We will strive to expand the eco-friendly bus market through pilot projects for wide-area and intercity buses."