Hwaseong City Goes All-In on Eco-Friendly Vehicles: Early Launch of Electric Cargo Vehicle Program and Largest Hydrogen Vehicle Support

City Sees Surge in Electric Cargo Vehicle Demand Due to Middle East Energy Crisis
Second Phase Project Moved Up from September to May; Applications Open from the 26th
35 Million Won Subsidy per Hydrogen Vehicle
Largest Allocation and Highes

Hwaseong Special City in Gyeonggi Province is accelerating its eco-friendly vehicle distribution projects to promote carbon neutrality and ease the financial burden on citizens. On May 11, the city announced that it would launch the second phase of the electric cargo vehicle subsidy program ahead of schedule, while also allocating the largest budget in Gyeonggi Province for supporting hydrogen vehicle purchases.

First, the city will begin accepting applications for the “2026 Second Phase Electric Cargo Vehicle Supply Project” starting May 26, as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Originally scheduled for September, this project was moved up by about four months due to a recent surge in demand for electric vehicles following the energy crisis originating in the Middle East, for the convenience of citizens.

The second phase will supply a total of 125 vehicles (116 for general use, 9 for parcel delivery). Subsidy amounts vary by vehicle type, and for small electric cargo vehicles, the support ranges from a minimum of 4.52 million won up to a maximum of 21.02 million won.

In particular, those who scrap their existing diesel cargo vehicles and newly purchase electric cargo vehicles for use in parcel delivery, as well as small business owners, individuals in lower income brackets, and farmers, can receive additional national government subsidies when purchasing electric cargo vehicles.

Citizens wishing to apply should check the subsidy amount for each vehicle type on the Zero Emission Vehicle Integrated Portal, sign a purchase contract with an electric vehicle manufacturer or importer dealership, and submit their application online through the dealership.

Applications will be accepted from 10:00 a.m. on May 26 until 6:00 p.m. on November 27. However, the program may close early if the budget is exhausted.

Following the electric cargo vehicle supply project, the city also plans to sequentially announce and accept applications for the electric passenger vehicle supply project in June, further expanding the distribution of eco-friendly vehicles.

The hydrogen vehicle distribution project is also being implemented at the highest level in the province. This year, Hwaseong City has secured 192 units for hydrogen vehicle distribution, the largest among all cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province. The subsidy amount is also the highest in the province at 35 million won per vehicle (22.5 million won from the national government and 12.5 million won from the city), significantly lowering the entry barrier for buyers.

The eligible vehicle is Hyundai Motor Company’s hydrogen electric vehicle, “The All New NEXO.” Applicants must be citizens aged 18 or older who have continuously resided in Hwaseong for at least two months as of the application date, or corporations, companies, or public institutions with offices in the city.

To provide convenient charging for hydrogen vehicle users, Hwaseong City operates a total of six hydrogen charging stations at major locations throughout the city. These include stations in the west (Hwaseong City Hall), east (Dongtan), and south (Sports Town), as well as at highway rest areas, totaling six hydrogen charging stations within the city.

Jang Jucheol, head of Hwaseong City’s Climate and Environment Policy Division, stated, “Due to rising energy prices, citizen interest in eco-friendly vehicles is higher than ever. We hope that this early implementation and active support will ease the financial burden on citizens and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality and improving air quality.”

Jang Jucheol, head of the Climate and Environment Policy Division, added, “Hwaseong Special City is expanding eco-friendly vehicle distribution based on the largest allocation of hydrogen vehicles and the highest subsidy levels in Gyeonggi Province. We will do our best to manage the charging infrastructure so that citizens can use hydrogen vehicles conveniently while reducing their financial burden.”