Ulsan City to Begin Operation of 'Taehwagang Station Hydrogen Charging Station' from January 2

The Nation's 3rd Hydrogen Pipeline-Based Hydrogen Charging Station

14th and 15th Hydrogen Charging Stations Established in the City Center

Ulsan City’s Taehwagang Station hydrogen charging station, completed at the end of June, will enter full operation starting January 2.

Accordingly, it is expected that the convenience for hydrogen vehicle users will be greatly enhanced due to its location in the heart of Ulsan’s transportation hub.

The ‘Taehwagang Station Hydrogen Charging Station’ was promoted as part of a national government subsidy project for low-emission vehicles, aimed at improving air quality by the Ministry of Environment and contributing to the creation of a hydrogen energy city and an eco-friendly automobile-centered city.

Construction began in March 2021 on city-owned land located on Nam-gu Industrial Road, and after completion at the end of June 2024, the final inspection was completed by the Korea Gas Safety Corporation in November.

Before full operation, Ulsan City completed a pilot operation for system stabilization of the charging station by December 27, 2024, and will begin official operation from that day.

The Taehwagang Station hydrogen charging station (Nam-gu Industrial Road) involved a total investment of 6 billion KRW (3 billion KRW from the national government and 3 billion KRW from the city), and two charging stations, the 14th and 15th in the Ulsan area, were installed. With a total charging capacity of 80 kg per hour, it can charge 336 passenger cars and 76 buses per day.

Notably, it is the third in the nation to directly supply hydrogen from a hydrogen pipeline (10.5 km) built between Yeocheon Five-way Intersection in Nam-gu and Hyundai Motor’s Hyomun Intersection, established as part of the country’s first hydrogen pilot city project completed in October 2024. The other two are the Together Charging Station and Sanggae SK Hydrogen Charging Station located within Ulsan.

By improving the hydrogen supply method from the existing hydrogen transport trucks (tube trailers) to hydrogen supply pipelines, large-volume transportation has become possible.

In addition, the processing capacity of the charging station has greatly increased, along with reduced logistics costs (transportation costs), accident prevention effects from large vehicles, improved hydrogen charging station processing efficiency, and advantages favorable to achieving economies of scale.

Furthermore, in response to high public interest in hydrogen, an excellent safety management system was established by applying safety management-based detectors (sensors) to the hydrogen charging station and hydrogen pipelines, setting new safety standards that hydrogen charging stations should meet in the future.

Located near Taehwagang Station, the ‘Taehwagang Station Hydrogen Charging Station’ is expected to operate a mix of hydrogen buses, hydrogen trucks, and hydrogen passenger cars using hydrogen as an energy source. Kyungdong City Gas, a specialized company in hydrogen charging station safety management and the top-rated company in the national safety management level evaluation, will operate the station.

Since 2009, Ulsan City has been building hydrogen electric vehicle charging stations, starting with the Maeam Hydrogen Charging Station. With the addition of the Taehwagang Station hydrogen charging station, the 14th and 15th stations, it is expected that the convenience for hydrogen electric vehicle users in the Ulsan area will be greatly improved.

Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom said, “Starting with the Taehwagang Station hydrogen charging station, which has achieved both economic efficiency and safety, we plan to expand the construction of hydrogen charging stations so that they can be accessed within 30 minutes throughout Ulsan.” He added, “We will do our best to create a hydrogen infrastructure that citizens can trust and rely on by utilizing the Yuldong Hydrogen Integrated Management Center, a precise monitoring system.”

Following the ‘2030 Ulsan World’s Best Hydrogen City Development Strategy’ announced on February 26, 2019, Ulsan City is expanding the hydrogen pipeline network to enable the hydrogen economy to flourish across housing, transportation, and industry.

To ensure access within 30 minutes throughout Ulsan, hydrogen charging infrastructure is being prioritized and established by deploying hydrogen pipeline networks mainly in high-demand areas, gateway regions, and transportation hubs.