First Demonstration Operation of Domestic Hydrogen Electric Tram in Ulsan

Total Project Cost of 42.6 Billion KRW Invested, 2,500 km Driving by Year-End

A tram powered by hydrogen will run for the first time in Korea in Ulsan.

Ulsan City announced that it will hold a "Hydrogen Electric Tram Demonstration Operation Ride Event" at 10:30 a.m. on the 14th at Ulsanhang Station in Maeam-dong, Nam-gu.

This event was organized to promote the hydrogen tram that Ulsan City plans to introduce and to establish an eco-friendly mobility ecosystem through the hydrogen electric tram demonstration project.

About 200 people, including Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom, National Assembly member Lee Chae-ik, representatives from participating companies and public institutions, and citizen representatives, will attend the event to introduce the hydrogen electric tram, hold a hydrogen tram departure ceremony, experience rides, and demonstrate hydrogen refueling.

Hydrogen Tram.

During the ride experience, the hydrogen tram will carry about 150 participants and run a round trip of 4 km from Ulsanhang Station to Sambigeonneolmok, marking the first time in Korea.

Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom said, "I am pleased to ride the hydrogen electric tram powered by clean energy hydrogen with citizens for the first time in Korea in Ulsan," adding, "The Ulsan urban railway to be introduced in the future will operate with hydrogen electric trams, making Ulsan the world's first hydrogen city where hydrogen trams operate as public transportation."

Interior of Ulsan hydrogen electric tram preparing for operation.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The hydrogen electric tram demonstration project was initiated when Ulsan City was selected for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's hydrogen electric tram demonstration project competition in July 2021.

The project is led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and managed by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, with a total budget of 42.6 billion KRW (28.1 billion KRW national funds, 2 billion KRW city funds, 12.5 billion KRW private funds) to be invested by the end of this year.

Four organizations?Hyundai Rotem, Korea Automotive Technology Institute, Korea Railroad Research Institute, and Ulsan Technopark?participate as main project operators, carrying out four tasks.

Specifically, ▲ Hyundai Rotem is responsible for the overall task of "System Integration and Verification Technology Development for Hydrogen Electric Trams."

Also, ▲ Korea Automotive Technology Institute handles the first sub-task, "Fuel Cell Components and System Technology Development for Hydrogen Electric Trams," and ▲ Korea Railroad Research Institute is in charge of the second sub-task, "Development of Technical Standards and Driving Performance Evaluation Technology for Hydrogen Electric Trams."

▲ Ulsan Technopark leads the third sub-task, "Real-World Operation Environment Demonstration and Operation Technology Development for Hydrogen Electric Trams." This task involves five organizations, including Bumhan Fuel Cell and Korea Gas Safety Corporation, with an investment of 5.02 billion KRW. The main content is a 2,500 km demonstration run of the hydrogen electric tram on the section from Ulsanhang Station, where train operations have been suspended, to Taehwagang Station.

Ulsan City Hall.

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