In this week’s Friday Fallback, we look back to when South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced that it had selected Seoul, Incheon, Busan, Sejong, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongnam as the six regions to carry out the ‘Hydrogen Fuel Cell System Purchase Support Pilot Project.’
During the first contest of the year, eight local governments applied for a total of 705 units (363 low-floor, 342 high-floor), with six of them being chosen based on their high commitment to deploying hydrogen buses. Incheon received the largest allotment with 130 buses, followed by Jeonbuk with 75, Busan with 70, Sejong with 45, and Gyeongnam and Seoul, both receiving 40 buses each.
The pilot project aimed to support the replacement costs of fuel cell systems for 400 hydrogen buses (300 low-floor, 100 high-floor) and extend their warranty periods. This unique initiative encouraged local governments to actively participate and take responsibility by forming consortia and applying through a public contest.
The selection criteria focused on hydrogen production, charging stations, and bus supply schedules, considering the high demand for hydrogen. Additionally, the project aimed to establish performance standards for fuel cell systems, a dedicated agency for reusing and reprocessing used fuel cell systems, and a standardization and certification system for the waste fuel cell industry.
Read the most up to date Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Industry news at FuelCellsWorks
An official from the Ministry of Industry stated that the hydrogen bus pilot project is an essential milestone for entering a hydrogen society, as it expands the hydrogen commercial vehicle market, reduces greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, and promotes hydrogen safety by applying it to public transportation.
