Hyundai Motor Partners with Ministry of National Defense to Expand Military Hydrogen Vehicles and Charging Stations Deployment

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Hyundai Motor Company is collaborating with related organizations including the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Environment, and Doosan Mobility Innovation to introduce hydrogen electric vehicles and establish hydrogen charging stations in the military sector.

On the 16th, Hyundai Motor signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for mutual cooperation to promote the introduction of hydrogen buses by the Ministry of National Defense and the establishment of hydrogen charging stations at Jaun-dae in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. Key attendees included Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae, Vice Minister of National Defense Park Jae-min, Vice Minister of Industry Jung Seung-il, Hyundai Motor President Gong Young-woon, and Doosan Mobility Innovation CEO Lee Doo-soon.

This multilateral cooperation aims to contribute to the development of the hydrogen industry, which is being intensively fostered as a national core strategic industry. The collaboration will cover the entire hydrogen industry, including expanding the distribution of hydrogen electric vehicles and expanding hydrogen charging infrastructure.

Hyundai Motor Company's hydrogen electric vehicle Nexo

In particular, this MOU signing signifies expanding the distribution of hydrogen electric vehicles into the military domain, thereby broadening the base of the hydrogen industry. Specifically, the Ministry of National Defense will cooperate in installing a civilian-military dual-use hydrogen charging station near Jaun-dae and purchase 10 hydrogen electric vehicles by 2021 for pilot operation. Furthermore, it plans to continuously expand the purchase and operation of hydrogen electric vehicles, increase the application of hydrogen fuel cell power generation facilities, and consider the military introduction of hydrogen drones.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will support technology development and demonstration for applying hydrogen fuel cell power generation facilities in military equipment and facilities, while the Ministry of Environment will support the establishment of civilian-military dual-use hydrogen charging stations. Hyundai Motor and Doosan Mobility Innovation will respectively ensure smooth development and production of hydrogen electric vehicles and hydrogen drones.

On the day, the attendees toured the planned site for the hydrogen charging station, test drove Hyundai Motor’s hydrogen bus, and observed a test flight of Doosan Mobility Innovation’s hydrogen drone. A Hyundai Motor official said, "This MOU is significant in that private companies, government agencies, and the military have agreed to mutually cooperate for the development of the hydrogen industry," adding, "Hyundai Motor will continue to collaborate with stakeholders in various fields for the advancement of the hydrogen industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.