Government, private sector team up for more hydrogen cars
Trade Minister Joo Hyung-hwan, center, poses with hydrogen car industry businessmen during a launch event for the Hydrogen Fusion Alliance, a consultative body to popularize hydrogen-powered cars, at The Plaza Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap
By Jhoo Dong-chan
The government and private sector have jointly set up a consultative organization to increase the number of hydrogen-powered cars in Korea.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Wednesday, the so-called Hydrogen Fusion Alliance was launched at The Plaza Seoul.
Alongside MOTIE, the environment and transport ministries and the local governments of Ulsan, Gwangju and South Chungcheong Province have joined in the alliance. The private sector includes makers of hydrogen-powered cars and their parts as well as gas and hydrogen producers.
“The importance of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles has risen not only as a center of the nation’s future car plans but also as a countermeasure for environmental issues such as emissions and fine dust,” said Trade Minister Joo Hyung-hwan during the launch event.
“The alliance will push ahead with its plans for promoting the nation’s hydrogen auto industry.”
The alliance is expected to serve as a control tower to facilitate the distribution of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and their infrastructure. It is part of the government’s plan to have 10,000 hydrogen-powered cars and 100 charging stations across the country by 2020.
So far, a total of 78 FCEVs have been sold while 10 charging stations are operated in Korea.
Since the plan was announced in July, the regional governments of Ulsan, Gwangju and South Chungcheong Province have designated the hydrogen-related industry as a strategic growth engine, offering various incentives in the sector.
The nation’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor is also expected to release a hydrogen-powered bus later this year and an upgraded version of the current Tucson FCEV model at a more affordable price by early 2018.
An industry observer says it’s a critical time for the nation’s future car industry.
“I understand Hyundai Motor has the most advanced FCEV technologies. However, it seems the automaker hasn’t decided whether to concentrate on FCEVs or EVs. Unlike its FCEV technologies, I believe the automaker’s EV technologies haven’t developed as competitively as its global competitors,” he said. “The government and the automaker should discuss the direction and its related infrastructure for future competitiveness.”