Gyeongbuk Province, First Step for Eco-Friendly Commuter Buses... Agreement to Switch from Diesel to Hydrogen

Cooperation with Large Corporations, Transportation Operators, and Hydrogen Refueling Companies

Gyeongbuk Province has taken the first step in its project to replace commuter buses with hydrogen vehicles.

On the 4th, Gyeongbuk Province announced on the 7th that Lee Dal-hee, the Vice Governor for Economic Affairs, signed a "Business Agreement for the Conversion of Commuter Buses to Hydrogen Buses" at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul with the Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Hwa-jin), seven major corporations, 12 local governments, and seven transportation companies.

The agreement includes plans to convert more than 2,000 buses to hydrogen buses by 2026, with △ the Ministry of Environment providing policy and financial support such as hydrogen bus purchase subsidies and extended performance warranty periods △ local governments including Gyeongbuk securing purchase subsidies and expanding hydrogen refueling infrastructure △ major corporations making efforts to convert commuter buses to hydrogen buses △ transportation operators rapidly converting internal combustion engine buses to hydrogen buses △ Hyundai Motor Company ensuring smooth production and supply of hydrogen buses.

Since a hydrogen refueling station was installed in Seongju in 2019, Gyeongbuk Province has made concentrated efforts to promote hydrogen vehicles, completing the installation of five additional refueling stations last year. This year, installation projects are underway at 10 locations.

Although the hydrogen vehicle distribution project began in 2021, only 308 vehicles have been distributed so far due to a lack of refueling facilities.

Stakeholders participating in the business agreement riding the hydrogen bus.

This year, with a project budget of 35.5 billion KRW (26.7 billion KRW from the national government), 296 hydrogen vehicles (including 68 buses) are planned to be distributed, and expansion plans will continue in line with the expansion of refueling facilities.

When the "Pohang Hydrogen Transportation Complex Base Construction Project" is completed in 2025, a hydrogen supply system and refueling infrastructure will be established in the East Coast region, and a significant increase in hydrogen commercial vehicles is expected centered around Yeongilman Port, a logistics port hub, and Daegu Gyeongbuk New Airport.

Gyeongbuk Province expects that this agreement will greatly contribute to the popularization of hydrogen buses and hydrogen vehicles through the voluntary conversion of transportation companies to hydrogen buses.

Lee Dal-hee, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongbuk Province, said, "The world is currently facing serious environmental pollution problems such as global warming and increased fine dust," adding, "This agreement will serve as a catalyst for the transition to green mobility."

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