Calling for More Eco-Friendly Cars, but Charging Infrastructure Budget Falls Behind

Only 51 Hydrogen Charging Stations on Highways

It has been found that hydrogen charging facilities on highways are insufficient. While conditions for charging electric vehicles have shown little improvement, the situation for hydrogen vehicles is even worse. Critics argue that, given the government's emphasis on promoting eco-friendly vehicles, it is essential to establish basic conditions such as charging infrastructure.

According to data submitted by Assemblyman Bok Kiwang of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, which was provided by Korea Expressway Corporation, as of August this year, there are 51 hydrogen vehicle chargers at 37 highway rest areas. In comparison, there are about 1,590 electric vehicle chargers installed during the same period. This means hydrogen chargers account for just over 3% of the number of electric vehicle chargers.

There are 211 rest areas nationwide, but hydrogen charging stations are present at only 17.5% of them. This means that fewer than one in five rest areas offer hydrogen charging. So far this year, only two new hydrogen charging stations have been added, even though more than half of the year has already passed.

National Assembly Hydrogen Charging Station. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

There are about 820,000 registered battery electric vehicles in South Korea. The number of hydrogen vehicles utilizing hydrogen fuel cells is around 40,000. Based on the number of vehicles registered by fuel type, each electric vehicle charger serves approximately 517 vehicles, whereas each hydrogen vehicle charger must accommodate 821 vehicles.

Korea Expressway Corporation plans to increase the number of electric vehicle chargers from 1,479 last year to 1,800 this year. For hydrogen vehicles, the plan is to build at least one hydrogen charging station every 150 kilometers. However, the expansion is progressing slowly. In particular, the slow pace of hydrogen charging station construction is attributed to a reduction in the related budget. The budget for hydrogen charging infrastructure was frozen at 4.5 billion won in 2023 and then reduced by 30% to 3.15 billion won this year.

Delays in obtaining permits from local governments, as well as various issues such as resident opposition and the relocation of obstacles during installation, have frequently caused projects to fall behind schedule. Assemblyman Bok pointed out, "Instead of justifying budget cuts and delays, practical measures must be introduced to improve convenience for hydrogen vehicle users."