Iljin Composite Materials Secures Additional Mass Production Order for Hyundai Hydrogen Buses

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] Iljin Composite Materials announced on the 4th that it has been selected as the mass production supplier of hydrogen storage systems (fuel tanks + modules) installed in Hyundai Motor Company's hydrogen electric police buses and medium-to-long distance metropolitan buses. This is an additional mass production order following the hydrogen electric city bus order in May last year.

The government aims to produce 6.2 million hydrogen vehicles and establish 1,200 hydrogen charging stations by 2040 according to the hydrogen economy roadmap. Among them, 40,000 hydrogen electric buses are planned to be supplied by 2040, and about 20,000 medium-to-long distance buses will be distributed from metropolitan buses starting in 2022 to 2030.

Iljin Composite Materials also plans to expand related facilities in accordance with the government's hydrogen economy roadmap.

Iljin Composite Materials, a subsidiary of Iljin Diamond (with an 86.95% stake), is the only company in Korea mass-producing composite material fuel tanks for hydrogen electric vehicles. After supplying fuel tanks for the Tucson hydrogen electric vehicle, the world's first commercialized hydrogen electric vehicle by Hyundai Motor Company in 2014, it has been exclusively supplying fuel tanks for the next-generation hydrogen electric vehicle 'Nexo' since 2018.

Iljin Composite Materials' hydrogen fuel tanks are TYPE 4 tanks made by wrapping carbon fiber around a cylindrical container made of high-strength plastic material. Compared to steel TYPE 1 fuel tanks, they are more than 60% lighter and over 10 times stronger, making them a core component of hydrogen electric vehicles, which have longer driving ranges than battery electric vehicles.

Kim Ki-hyun, CEO of Iljin Composite Materials, said, "Iljin Composite Materials' hydrogen fuel tanks are world-class products that exceed global safety standards in 25 categories including rupture, pressure resistance, and airtightness," adding, "Based on advanced technology, it is significant to secure a leading position in the mass production market of commercial hydrogen electric vehicles, which is rapidly growing in the global market following passenger vehicles."

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