The First-Ever 'Hydrogen Solid-State Bus' Runs in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam

Jinju~Changwon~Busan~Ulsan~Jinju, 5-Week Pilot Operation

Hydrogen high-floor buses operated jointly by Gyeongnam Province, the Ministry of Environment, Busan City, Ulsan City, and Hyundai Motor Company.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Se-ryeong] Gyeongsangnam-do held a kickoff meeting for a hydrogen high-floor (metropolitan) bus pilot project in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Busan City, Ulsan City, and Hyundai Motor Company.

This pilot project was promoted as a follow-up measure after signing an agreement in January to expand the supply and support of hydrogen buses in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) area.

The meeting held on the 11th was attended by officials from the Ministry of Environment, Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, Hyundai Motor Company, and the Gyeongnam Bus Transportation Business Association.

The hydrogen high-floor bus will run a total of 3,500 km from September 12 to September 15, operating as an intercity and commuter bus in the Bu-Ul-Gyeong area, and as a shuttle bus in the metropolitan area.

The pilot operation is conducted by the Incheon Green Environment Support Center, supported by the Ministry of Environment.

The hydrogen high-floor bus departing from Jinju will travel through Changwon, Busan, and Ulsan, returning to Jinju, covering 335 km per day.

The bus will also be piloted for commuting purposes by public officials of Ulsan City, Busan City, and Gyeongnam Province.

Afterward, it will operate as a shuttle bus on the section from Incheon Geomam Station to the Comprehensive Environmental Research Complex before the pilot project concludes.

One hydrogen high-floor bus used in the pilot project is scheduled for official release in the fourth quarter, and the province plans to compare its convenience, economic efficiency, and vehicle performance with the existing hydrogen city buses in operation.

Ryu Myeong-hyun, Director of the Industry and Trade Bureau, said, “This is a very meaningful project for hydrogen industry cooperation and carbon neutrality realization in Bu-Ul-Gyeong, a core hub of the hydrogen industry ecosystem. We will continue to support the establishment of a hydrogen industry innovation platform and commercialization of core technologies, which are tasks of the 8th local government administration, to foster the new hydrogen industry and ensure no setbacks in the supply of hydrogen buses and the construction of charging stations.”

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