Incheon City Accelerates Hydrogen Economy Transition... 60,000 Hydrogen Vehicles to be Distributed by 2030

Incheon City is accelerating its transition to a hydrogen economy through the expansion of hydrogen mobility.

According to the city on the 23rd, starting with the first introduction of passenger hydrogen vehicles (Nexo) in 2019, followed by pilot introductions of hydrogen buses in 2020 and hydrogen trucks in 2021, this year the city is promoting the introduction of hydrogen garbage trucks, increasing the supply of zero-emission hydrogen vehicles annually to improve air quality.

The city plans to replace 700 out of 2,037 city buses with hydrogen buses by next year and expand the supply of hydrogen commercial vehicles annually to convert all city buses to hydrogen buses by 2030, aiming to supply a total of 60,000 hydrogen vehicles by 2030.

In particular, this year, the city is investing 107.1 billion KRW, a 373% increase compared to the previous year (28.7 billion KRW), to supply a record-high 2,127 hydrogen vehicles. Additionally, through a government public contest project, it secured national funding for the largest-scale nationwide public transportation conversion of 130 vehicles (100 low-floor buses and 30 high-floor buses).

Moreover, by 2030, the city plans to establish hydrogen refueling infrastructure accessible within 20 minutes throughout the entire Incheon area. Currently, seven hydrogen refueling stations are in operation, and with seven more to be installed this year, the total will increase to 14 by the end of the year.

Having been selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's public contest project this year and secured 7 billion KRW in national funding, the city plans to continue expanding the refueling infrastructure by building hydrogen transportation complexes on well-located sites such as bus and truck garages.

The nation's first private-sector hydrogen solid-state bus (commuter bus) has been introduced and is operating in Incheon.
[Photo by Incheon City]

Public-private cooperation for establishing a hydrogen public transportation system is also progressing smoothly.

On the 4th, a 'Social Value Management (ESG) Leading Company Hydrogen Commuter Bus Conversion Agreement' was signed to introduce hydrogen buses for charter buses, and on the 19th, city bus and charter bus operators, hydrogen refueling station operators, and others gathered to share plans for expanding hydrogen bus supply and exchange opinions.

Meanwhile, with the completion of a liquefied hydrogen production plant with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons in Incheon this year, a hydrogen industry ecosystem is expected to be established that will lead the development of the metropolitan hydrogen economy from production and distribution to utilization.

Namju Lee, Director of the Future Industry Bureau of Incheon City, stated, "Hydrogen mobility is an eco-friendly transportation means with low noise and vibration, emitting no fine dust or harmful chemicals. We will ensure that Incheon establishes itself as a leading hydrogen economy city through the expansion of hydrogen mobility, attraction of hydrogen anchor companies, creation of an Incheon-type hydrogen production cluster, green hydrogen production based on offshore wind power, and the establishment of an integrated hydrogen platform."

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