Hyundai Motor Group Showcases Comprehensive Hydrogen Business at 'World Hydrogen Expo'

Seven Affiliates, Including Hyundai Motor, Set Up Joint Exhibition Booth
Showcasing Capabilities in Production, Charging, Storage, and Mobility
Jang Jaehoon: "Hydrogen Is the Game Changer for Future Energy Transition"

On December 4, Hyundai Motor Group participated in the 'World Hydrogen Expo (WHE) 2025' held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, introducing its hydrogen technology, expanding partnerships, and strengthening its position as a global hydrogen leader.

Seven affiliates, including Hyundai Motor, Kia, Hyundai Steel, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Hyundai Engineering, Hyundai Glovis, and Hyundai Rotem, jointly set up a booth centered around the group’s hydrogen brand and business platform 'HTWO.' They showcased technologies and capabilities across the entire value chain, including hydrogen production, charging and storage, mobility, and industrial applications, presenting a variety of real-world use cases.

Jang Jaehoon, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, stated, "To meet the rapidly increasing power demand driven by the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI), expanding renewable energy is essential. Hydrogen is the most powerful solution for complementing the intermittency of renewable energy, enhancing efficiency, and enabling its storage and utilization," adding, "By converting surplus electricity into hydrogen, we can reduce the burden on the power grid and make the energy system more flexible. Hydrogen is the game changer for future energy transition."

Hyundai Motor Group unveiled various hydrogen production technologies aimed at improving energy production efficiency and supporting the development of distributed power grids, including polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis, W2H, and ammonia cracking.

PEM water electrolysis is a technology that produces high-purity clean hydrogen by electrolyzing water using the reverse reaction of a hydrogen fuel cell. Hyundai Motor Group plans to produce PEM water electrolysis systems for the first time in Korea at its new hydrogen fuel cell plant in Ulsan, scheduled for completion in 2027.

Additionally, the group introduced various PEM water electrolysis-based hydrogen production projects underway in different regions, such as the construction of 1MW-class electrolysis-based hydrogen production bases in Buan, North Jeolla Province, and Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, as well as plans to develop a 5MW-class PEM water electrolysis facility in Jeju Island by 2029. In the Southwest Coast region, Hyundai Motor Group also plans to build a large-scale 1GW electrolysis plant, establish hydrogen shipping centers and charging stations, and promote the creation of a future hydrogen AI city.

The group also exhibited the resource-circulating hydrogen production model 'W2H (Waste-to-Hydrogen)' being developed in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Paju, Gyeonggi Province, and Indonesia, as well as the 'ammonia cracking demonstration' project being carried out in cooperation with North Jeolla Province. The exhibition was designed to help visitors easily understand the production processes and unique advantages of each technology.

The exhibition also featured the second-generation 700-bar 'mobile hydrogen charging station.' This all-in-one facility, equipped with a hydrogen compressor, storage container, cooler, and charger on a truck or large trailer, can be deployed first in areas with insufficient charging infrastructure, helping to uncover initial demand and overcome spatial constraints. Hyundai Motor Group is currently operating Korea's first green hydrogen-linked mobile hydrogen charging station, 'H2 Jeju Moving Station,' in Jeju Island.

Hyundai Motor Group’s Robotics Lab also demonstrated the charging of The All-New NEXO using the 'Automatic Charging Robot for Hydrogen Electric Vehicles (ACR-H).' This robot, based on vision AI and high-precision control technology, was developed to precisely recognize the positions of the vehicle and charging port and to reliably connect the charging port and connector.

The 'package-type hydrogen charging station' was also introduced. This modular charging solution, with key equipment assembled in a container, can be arranged freely in length and width, and by incorporating multi-story and underground technologies, it maximizes space utilization, making it particularly promising for expanding charging infrastructure in urban areas.

The 'exchangeable hydrogen storage system' was also showcased. This system allows for the replacement of hydrogen storage tank modules, enabling pre-charged tanks to be installed or removed in a short time using an internal crane when fuel is low. Each module stores about 32 kg of hydrogen. The 'liquid hydrogen storage system,' which can safely and efficiently store liquid hydrogen at an ultra-low temperature of minus 253 degrees Celsius, was also on display.

The latest hydrogen mobility lineup for agricultural machinery, ships, and defense was introduced. The fully redesigned model of 'The All-New NEXO,' unveiled seven years after its initial launch in 2018, and the improved version of the high-speed large bus 'Universe Hydrogen Electric Bus,' capable of traveling up to 960.4 km on a single charge, were exhibited.

The 'hydrogen all-terrain vehicle (ATV)' is an eco-friendly ATV powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, featuring less heat and noise compared to conventional internal combustion vehicles, and a lightweight body design suitable for air transport. The exhibition also included a 'hydrogen electric boat' and an 'agricultural hydrogen electric tractor,' both equipped with hydrogen fuel cell systems, demonstrating that hydrogen fuel cell solutions are suitable not only for high-power, high-load operations but also for long-distance travel and extended work hours.

The booth featured a carbon-reducing steel production process and a step-by-step reduction roadmap, offering a preview of the electric arc furnace steel mill in the United States, scheduled to begin operation in 2029. The 'hydrogen burner,' an eco-friendly facility utilizing heat generated by burning a mixture of hydrogen and air, was also introduced.

Starting with the paint oven at Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant, Hyundai Motor Group plans to gradually expand the application of hydrogen burners to manufacturing processes requiring high-temperature heat, with the goal of replacing approximately 5,000 LNG burners in domestic production processes with hydrogen burners in the future.

The group also presented the '100kW-class hydrogen fuel cell generator,' which will be introduced at the Kia and Hyundai Glovis automobile import/export terminal at Pyeongtaek Port, as well as the 'hydrogen fuel cell AGV (automated guided vehicle)' for container cargo automatic transport, contributing to port decarbonization, and the 'hydrogen fuel cell power pack' for construction machinery and industrial equipment, showcased in the 'hydrogen fuel cell forklift.'

Meanwhile, from December 2 to 4, Hyundai Motor Group led strategic discussions for the expansion of the global hydrogen ecosystem at the 'Hydrogen Council CEO Summit,' strengthening close ties with leaders of major global hydrogen companies. This summit, held for the first time in Korea, was attended by CEOs of 100 global companies and more than 200 leaders of the hydrogen industry. As a co-chair, Hyundai Motor Group led various discussions aimed at revitalizing the hydrogen ecosystem.

Jang Jaehoon, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group and co-chair of the Hydrogen Council, reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening global hydrogen industry leadership with Fran?ois Jackow, Chairman of Air Liquide, who was newly appointed as co-chair.

Vice Chairman Jang stated, "We have explored practical implementation plans for demand creation, infrastructure expansion, and accelerating global cooperation with global leaders, presenting a decisive turning point for the hydrogen industry. With strong policy support and robust public-private cooperation, the hydrogen industry will bring about meaningful change."

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