Hyundai Rotem and Ulsan City Promote Hydrogen Electric Tram Demonstration Project

Hyundai Rotem announced on the 14th that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ulsan City on the 13th of this month for a hydrogen fuel cell tram demonstration project.

Song Cheol-ho, Mayor of Ulsan (left), and Lee Yong-bae, President of Hyundai Rotem, are taking a commemorative photo after signing the MOU.

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Hyundai Rotem announced on the 14th that it recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ulsan City for a hydrogen electric tram demonstration project.

The hydrogen electric tram demonstration project involves installing hydrogen electric trams, hydrogen charging stations, and vehicle depots along the 4.6 km Ulsan Port Line, which runs from Taehwagang Station to Ulsan Port Station on the existing railway. The project aims to review the applicability of this system to the Ulsan Urban Railway currently planned by Ulsan City.

Hyundai Rotem will be responsible for the entire tram operation system, including manufacturing and test-running the hydrogen electric trams, tracks, signaling, and building hydrogen charging stations. Ulsan City will support all administrative matters related to securing the demonstration route and installing hydrogen charging stations.

Hyundai Rotem explained that supplying hydrogen electric trams and hydrogen charging stations together has the advantage of identifying and addressing potential issues that may arise during the integrated operation of trains and charging stations in advance.

Once the performance verification of the hydrogen electric trams and hydrogen charging stations is completed through the demonstration project, it is expected that Hyundai Rotem will be able to actively enter not only the domestic but also the overseas tram markets.

In May, Hyundai Rotem secured an order for three hydrogen reformers from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Gangwon Technopark, and recently began construction of a hydrogen reformer factory on the site of its Uiwang research center, accelerating its hydrogen charging facility supply business. Additionally, since last year, Hyundai Rotem has been developing hydrogen electric trams in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company and plans to complete the production of a performance test platform vehicle by 2021.

Hyundai Rotem Hydrogen Electric Tram

The hydrogen electric tram is designed with a low-floor structure, allowing easy boarding and alighting for people with mobility challenges, and offers cost savings in construction compared to conventional trams and light rail transit.

In particular, the hydrogen electric tram is effective in purifying urban air. Operating one set of hydrogen electric trams for one hour can purify approximately 800 micrograms of fine dust and produce about 107.6 kg of clean air, which is equivalent to the amount consumed by 107 adults in one hour.

A Hyundai Rotem official stated, “Through the agreement with Ulsan City, selected as a hydrogen pilot city, we expect the commercialization of domestic hydrogen electric trams to accelerate further,” adding, “We will do our best to establish high-quality and safe hydrogen electric trams and hydrogen charging stations to realize a hydrogen society.”

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