South Korea Leading the Way with Over a Thousand Hydrogen Buses
Key Ideas
  • South Korea has over 1,000 hydrogen buses in operation, achieving this milestone in just 5 years with Hyundai playing a significant role in the fleet conversion.
  • China leads globally with nearly 5,000 hydrogen buses, while Europe is making progress with companies like Solaris in Poland deploying over 220 hydrogen buses.
  • European countries have collectively deployed 370 hydrogen buses with plans for 1,200 by 2025, showcasing a growing trend towards hydrogen-powered public transportation.
  • France has 58 hydrogen-powered buses in circulation, with plans to increase this number to 721 by 2033, indicating a steady growth in hydrogen adoption.
South Korea has emerged as a leader in the adoption of hydrogen buses with over 1,000 such buses currently operating in the country. The milestone was recently announced by the Environment Minister, Han Hwa-jin, highlighting the rapid progress made in just 5 years since the first hydrogen bus was registered in Changwon. Hyundai has been a key player in this fleet conversion. Despite South Korea's achievement, China remains the global leader with almost 5,000 hydrogen buses in circulation by 2022. In Europe, companies like Solaris in Poland are making significant strides, deploying over 220 hydrogen buses. The Clean Energy Partnership in Europe reports the deployment of 122 hydrogen-powered buses across 6 countries, with more expected through programs like Jive 2. France, on the other hand, currently has 58 hydrogen buses on the road, with plans to expand this to 721 by 2033. This growth in hydrogen-powered public transportation signifies a shift towards sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in the transportation sector.
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