Park Jae-hyuk is a seasoned journalist who has provided comprehensive coverage of South Korea's corporate dynamics, economic policies, industry challenges and the global positioning of Korean companies. Based on the articles he has written since joining The Korea Times in 2016, his investigative approach has helped readers understand corporate governance, economic trends and business strategies shaping South Korea’s economy.
Skepticism grows over FCEVs amid hydrogen shortage
A notification of early closure is posted at a hydrogen charging station near the National Assembly building in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap
By Park Jae-hyuk
The recent shortage of hydrogen for vehicles in Korea has prompted a controversy about the country’s readiness to popularize hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), cars that run on electricity genreated by using oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen, according to industry officials, Sunday.
Since a malfunction last week at hydrogen production facilities at Hyundai Steel’s Dangjin factory in South Chungcheong Province, charging stations in interior parts of Korea have faced difficulties securing hydrogen. As a result, FCEV drivers have had to line up for several hours to fuel their cars.
Earlier this month, passenger cars and buses using hydrogen had engine troubles after fueling from a charging station in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, because of impurities in the station’s hydrogen supply. In August last year, an oil price hike reduced hydrogen production, forcing a maximum on hydrogen purchases of 1 kilogram per driver at each station.
The series of problems caused skepticism about switching from diesel-powered buses and trucks to hydrogen-powered vehicles, as well as over Hyundai Motor’s plan to launch the next version of the NEXO, its hydrogen passenger car.
“The government’s rapidly changing roadmap for the hydrogen economy has caused confusion, delaying the private sector’s investments,” Korea Energy Economics Institute research fellow Kim Jae-kyung said in a recent forum.
When the previous Moon Jae-in administration drew up a plan for the hydrogen economy, Korea aimed to sell 2.9 million hydrogen vehicles in the domestic market by 2040 and build at least 1,200 charging stations nationwide. Under the plan, the number of hydrogen cars in Korea rose to 33,796 as of October this year from 893 in 2018.
After President Yoon Suk Yeol was inaugurated last year, however, the government readjusted the plan, aiming for a supply of only 30,000 hydrogen-powered buses and trucks by 2030 and the construction of 70 additional charging stations during the period.
Amid the growing concerns, the energy ministry claimed that the supply of hydrogen will start normalizing gradually next week, although it will take several more weeks to fix Hyundai Steel’s facilities.
On Sunday, ministry officials visited charging stations near Seoul to monitor the hydrogen supply, following their emergency meeting last Friday with domestic suppliers of hydrogen.