Dignitaries, including Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Sung Yun-mo, Chungcheongbuk-do Gov. Lee Si-jong, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun, Hyundai Motor President Chung Jin-haeng, and Hyundai Mobis Lim Young-deuk, attemd a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Hyundai Mobis’s 2nd hydrogen fuel cell plant in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do, on Dec. 11. (Photo: Hyundai Motor Group)

“(We’ve) been so far a fast follower in the automobile industry, but (we’ll) become a first mover to lead the global market as it comes to the hydrogen car sector,” said Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun while unveiling the FCEV Vision 2030 at a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Hyundai Mobis’s 2nd hydrogen fuel cell plant in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do, on Dec. 11.

The vision calls for channeling 7.6 trillion won in the hydrogen sector by 2030 with the goal of raising hydrogen fuel cell production capacity to 500,000 units per annum and creating 51,000 new jobs.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Sung Yun-mo, on hand at the ceremony, said, “Today’s ground-breaking ceremony will be a first step to open the hydrogen economy.” The government will aggressively assist in building a hydrogen ecosystem by dramatically reforming regulations, he added.

Hyundai Motor’s massive investments, combined with the government’s support, can accelerate the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell cars at a faster pace.

Kwon Nak-hyun, a division head of the H2 Korea, said the government intends to subsidize 4,000 hydrogen fuel cell cars and 35 charging stations next year, and chances are high that it could expedite a scheme to popularize hydrogen fuel cell cars.

Hyundai Motor released its ambitious large-sized SUV Palisade on the same day, which debuted following three years of research and development.

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice President Chung braved a heavy snowfall to get to the plant, the venue of the ground-breaking ceremony.

The event was an opportunity to take a first step to mass produce hydrogen fuel cell cars on which the group’s future will depend. The plant is expected to emerge as the world’s first and biggest hydrogen fuel cell one.

The first plant in Chungju, which has been already built last second half, is capable of mass producing hydrogen fuel cell systems. If and when a 2nd plant will be dedicated, the group’s fuel cell production capacity will surge from current 3,000 annually to 40,000 by 2022. The Chungju plant will see its annual capacity jump to 500,000 units by 2030 to become the world’s largest one. Hyundai Motor has already secured the world’ top-rated hydrogen fuel cell technologies.

Hyundai Motor put on the market two hydrogen fuel cell cars – Tucson ix in 2013 and Nexo in March 2018. Tucson ix is the world’s first mass produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

Hyundai Motor had so far sold 207 Tucson ix units in Korea and 709 units abroad until last month. And 587 units in Korea and 194 units abroad were sold after the release of Nexo.

The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle has a range of 609 km, the best in the world, and it is the top- rated automobile in fuel cell efficiency and silence, but sales are negligible due to insufficient charging infrastructure. As the government plans to have 35 charging stations on top of 40 privately-run ones next year, hydrogen fuel car sales are expected to surge.

Localization of automotive parts for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles now stands at 99 percent. Hyundai Motor will plunk down 7.6 trillion won in the R&D sector in cooperation with 130-odd cooperative companies with the goal of creating 51,000 jobs. The Bank of Korea estimated related economic effects at 25 trillion won and job creation induction effects, including indirect employment, at 220,000 people.

Koo Young-mo , a team leader of the Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH), “The more hydrogen fuel cell cars are sold, the more automotive part makers are going to spring up, and it will serve as an opportunity to revitalize the Korean automobile industry.”

The group is seeking to implement new projects to supply hydrogen fuel cells to not only Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors but also other automakers, ships, railways, lifters, power generators and other segments.
The group plans to have an additional capacity of producing 200,000 fuel cells for purposes other than those for hydrogen fuel cell cars.