Significant Expansion of Hydrogen Buses as 'Running Air Purifiers' in Busan

Busan City, First Deployment of One Unit Last Year After Pilot City Selection... 1,583 Tons of Air Purification in One Year
Currently 5 Units ⇒ 15 More Units Added This Year ⇒ 500 Units, 20% of City Buses, to Be Introduced by 2030
Two Charging Stati

A hydrogen electric bus of Daedo Passenger is charging at 'H Busan Hydrogen Charging Station' in Sasang-gu, Busan. [Image source=Daedo Passenger]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The number of hydrogen buses, known as "running air purifiers," will significantly increase in Busan.

Currently, five hydrogen buses are in operation, and by November, a total of 20 buses will be running. By 2030, ten years from now, it is expected that 500 hydrogen buses, accounting for 20% of city buses, will be deployed.

Busan City announced on the 13th that since Busan was selected as a pilot city for hydrogen buses by the Ministry of Environment in 2019, the first hydrogen electric bus was introduced on city bus route 77 on September 6 last year. Currently, five buses are in full operation, and 15 more will be added by November.

The city plans to operate 100 hydrogen electric buses by 2022 and convert 500 buses, which is 20% of the total 2,511 city buses, to hydrogen buses by 2030.

The five hydrogen electric city buses currently in operation have traveled 325,571 km in one year, equivalent to circling the Earth eight times.

Hydrogen electric buses charge hydrogen in tanks installed in the vehicle, and the hydrogen reacts with oxygen from the incoming air to generate electricity for driving, producing no air pollutants such as fine dust except water.

In fact, by purifying the air while driving, it is estimated that 1,583 tons of air were purified in one year. This corresponds to the amount of air inhaled by 320 adults over one year.

Additionally, hydrogen buses are noiseless and can maintain a comfortable indoor temperature through heating and cooling using the thermal energy generated from the hydrogen-oxygen reaction. They also have the advantage of short charging times, making the driving environment better than that of regular electric vehicles.

To expand the supply of hydrogen buses, establishing hydrogen charging stations is an urgent task.

Busan currently operates two hydrogen charging stations in Eomgung-dong, Sasang-gu, and Songjeong-dong, Gangseo-gu. By 2022, two hydrogen bus-exclusive charging stations will be installed at the public city bus garages in Cheonggang-ri, Gijang-gun, and Hwajeon-dong, Gangseo-gu (planned sites).

However, additional installation of private hydrogen charging stations faces difficulties due to residents' opposition. The city plans to actively explain the safety and necessity of the facilities to ensure there are no setbacks in the supply of hydrogen electric vehicles.

Byun Sung-wan, Acting Mayor of Busan, said, "Hydrogen is an emerging growth engine and is establishing itself as an eco-friendly energy source." He added, "However, to revitalize the hydrogen economy, government-level public promotion on the safety, economic feasibility, and eco-friendliness of hydrogen energy and the formation of public consensus on the hydrogen economy are necessary."

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