Jeong Ae Visits Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Production Site: "Please Do Your Best for Timely Supply"

First On-Site Visit of the Minister of Environment

This Year’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Distribution Project Kicks Off in Full Swing…136,000 Vehicles Scheduled for Distribution

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] Han Jeong-ae, Minister of Environment, visited an electric and hydrogen vehicle production plant for her first on-site visit since taking office, urging to "do your best to ensure timely supply."

On the 28th, Minister Han visited Hyundai Motor’s Jeonju Plant located in Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, and the nearby Wanju Hydrogen Charging Station consecutively.

The Hyundai Motor Jeonju Plant is the world’s largest electric and hydrogen commercial vehicle factory, producing electric and hydrogen buses among other vehicles. The Wanju Hydrogen Charging Station is the largest in the country, capable of charging all domestically produced hydrogen vehicles (passenger and commercial).

At the site, Minister Han inspected the hydrogen vehicle production facilities, which are key to zero-emission vehicles, encouraged the officials, and urged them to do their best to ensure timely supply of vehicles to achieve the goal of 300,000 zero-emission vehicles by 2021.

As of the end of last year, a total of approximately 179,000 zero-emission vehicles (including two-wheelers) had been distributed. This year, an additional 136,185 vehicles are scheduled to be distributed, opening the era of 300,000 zero-emission vehicles by the end of the year.

The Ministry of Environment plans to focus its efforts on distributing electric and hydrogen commercial vehicles, which have a high effect on improving air quality, starting this year.

The distribution volume of electric buses and electric hydrogen cargo buses will be significantly expanded, and subsidies will be newly established (2 billion KRW each from national and local governments) for a pilot project to develop hydrogen cargo vehicles.

The 2021 zero-emission vehicle distribution project will also be launched in earnest. On the 21st, the Ministry of Environment announced a subsidy system reform plan reflecting this year’s zero-emission vehicle distribution policy direction. Once the subsidy guidelines are notified to local governments, each municipality will begin preparing for the public contest projects.

Minister Han said, "Countries around the world are already making every effort to lead the zero-emission vehicle era that has become a reality," adding, "We will focus our capabilities not only on increasing demand but also on expanding supply so that 2021 becomes the inaugural year of innovation in distribution projects for the popularization of zero-emission vehicles and the realization of carbon neutrality."

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