South Korea's Hydrogen Bus Revolution: Approaching 1,000 Buses on the Road
Key Ideas
- South Korea is on the verge of a clean energy milestone with nearly 1,000 hydrogen-powered buses currently operational nationwide.
- Incheon leads the country with 213 hydrogen buses, showcasing the city's strong adoption of clean technology.
- The Ministry of Environment plans to accelerate hydrogen bus deployment by expanding high-capacity fueling stations and introducing liquefied hydrogen stations for faster refueling times.
- The government aims to have 300,000 hydrogen vehicles on the road by 2030, including 20,000 buses, in line with broader clean energy goals.
The Ministry of Environment in South Korea recently announced that the country is on the brink of achieving a significant clean energy milestone, with 992 hydrogen-powered buses currently in operation nationwide. This achievement is close to the goal set over five years ago of reaching 1,000 hydrogen buses on the roads. The journey began in June 2019 with the registration of the first hydrogen bus in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, and the numbers have steadily increased since then. In 2020, there were 77 hydrogen buses, followed by 131 in 2021, 283 in 2022, and a notable jump to 650 in 2023. Incheon leads the country with 213 hydrogen buses, demonstrating the city's keen adoption of this clean technology. The Ministry anticipates a faster expansion of hydrogen buses through the introduction of liquefied hydrogen stations, which allow for higher storage capacity and quicker refueling times. The government's plan to have 300,000 hydrogen vehicles on the road by 2030, including 20,000 buses, reflects a broader commitment to clean energy goals.