Jeonnam Province Gives Green Light to Expanding Hydrogen Commercial Vehicle Distribution

Ministry of Environment Selects Yeosu for 'Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Special Charging Station' Project... Expectations for Carbon Neutrality and COP28 Hosting

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] A green light has been turned on for the expansion of hydrogen buses and other hydrogen commercial vehicles to achieve carbon neutrality in Jeonnam Province and to attract COP28.

The province announced on the 26th that one special hydrogen fuel cell vehicle charging station in Yeosu was selected in the Ministry of Environment's 2021 hydrogen fuel cell vehicle special charging station contest, which is promoted as a private subsidy project.

The selected special charging station is a joint venture between CoHyGen Co., Ltd. and GS Caltex, and it will charge not only general hydrogen passenger cars but also hydrogen buses and hydrogen cargo trucks.

It is planned to be installed in Jusam-dong, Yeosu, with a total cost of 6 billion KRW, including 4.8 billion KRW of national funds.

CoHyGen was established in March with the participation of nine companies including Korea District Heating Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, SK Energy, GS Caltex, S-OIL, and E1.

Currently, there are two hydrogen charging stations operating in Jeonnam: Yeosu and Jangseong. Additionally, seven more stations have been confirmed in Hampyeong, Goheung, Mokpo, Yeosu 2, Gwangyang, and Yeonggwang, making a total of nine stations expected to be operational by next year.

From this year, operating costs for hydrogen charging stations run by private companies will be subsidized by national funds. This is expected to alleviate concerns about business losses due to lack of demand and promote the spread of charging stations.

Jeonnam Province also plans to install a special charging station in the hinterland of Gwangyang Port to expand the supply of hydrogen buses and trucks in industrial complexes and ports. Discussions with related organizations are currently underway.

According to the plan to expand hydrogen charging stations in Jeonnam, the supply of hydrogen vehicles is also expected to increase.

This year, 300 hydrogen vehicles are planned to be supplied, and residents will receive support of 34.5 million to 37.5 million KRW per vehicle when purchasing hydrogen cars. As of the end of last year, 127 hydrogen vehicles had been supplied in Jeonnam.

The province has established the "Jeollanam-do Hydrogen Vehicle Supply and Hydrogen Charging Station Expansion Plan," aiming to install 37 hydrogen charging stations by 2030 at highway and local road rest areas, industrial complexes, LPG charging stations, and more.

They plan to supply 43,000 hydrogen vehicles and reduce greenhouse gases by 86,000 tons.

According to Hyundai Motor Company data, one hour of driving a hydrogen vehicle (based on one Nexo) produces 26.9 kg of clean air, and replacing 10,000 medium diesel SUVs with hydrogen vehicles has the effect of planting 620,000 trees.

Park Hyun-sik, Director of the Environment and Forestry Bureau of Jeonnam Province, said, "The supply of hydrogen vehicles is essential to achieve carbon neutrality in Jeollanam-do by 2050 and to successfully attract COP28," adding, "We will do our best to build hydrogen charging stations for commercial vehicles as well."

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