"The Last Train to the Hydrogen Society Now" Hydrogen Evangelist Jeong Eui-seon's Appeal

Opening Remarks at Hydrogen Wave Event
Hydrogen Fuel Cells to Be Applied to All Commercial Vehicle Lineups by 2028

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun is delivering the keynote speech at the Hydrogen Wave event held online on the 7th. (Photo by Hyundai Motor)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] "We want hydrogen energy to be used ‘by Everyone, for Everything, Everywhere.’"

This is the hydrogen society envisioned by Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group (photo), who has embarked on a bold journey to realize a hydrogen society by 2040. While some still criticize the inefficiency of hydrogen energy and hold negative views about a hydrogen society, Chairman Chung has chosen the popularization of hydrogen energy as a key solution to the global environmental crisis.

In his opening remarks at the Hydrogen Wave event held the day before (the 7th), Chairman Chung emphasized, "We cannot respond to climate change without hydrogen," adding, "This moment may be the last train heading toward a hydrogen society."

To this end, Hyundai Motor plans to apply hydrogen fuel cells to all commercial vehicle lineups, including already released models, by 2028, becoming the first in the global automotive industry to do so. Furthermore, they intend to develop hydrogen fuel cells that can be used across various modes of transportation such as trams, trains, ships, and Urban Air Mobility (UAM), as well as in daily life and industries including homes, buildings, factories, and power plants, taking the lead in addressing the environmental crisis facing the planet.

Chairman Chung’s interest in the hydrogen mobility business began with his father, Chung Mong-koo, Honorary Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group. Shortly after becoming Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group in 1998, Honorary Chairman Chung established a hydrogen fuel cell development organization and provided full support.

His rationale was that as a resource-poor country, the current generation must bear the responsibility for environmental protection so that future generations can use energy without inconvenience, and that internal combustion engines must be replaced with eco-friendly hydrogen fuel cells.

As a result, by strengthening investments in battery development, a core technology for hydrogen vehicles, Hyundai established the world’s first mass production system for hydrogen cars in 2013, two years ahead of schedule.

Honorary Chairman Chung’s steadfast dream of hydrogen mobility was inherited by Chairman Chung, who elevated the theme of ‘realizing an eco-friendly hydrogen society’ to a global agenda.

During his visit to the United States last July, Chairman Chung met with key figures and stated, "Hydrogen business is challenging and may not lead to profits in the short term, but finding solutions to global climate change is our generation’s duty."

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