The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) announced that the inauguration ceremony of the ‘Icheon Daheung Hydrogen Charging Station,’ the first liquefied hydrogen charging station in the Gyeonggi region, will be held on the afternoon of June 27 at the charging station site (located in Daewol-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do), and that hydrogen supply to commuter hydrogen buses of SK Hynix will commence.

The Icheon Daheung Hydrogen Charging Station was selected for the Ministry’s ‘2022 Hydrogen Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installation Private Capital Subsidy Project,’ and over two years, a total of KRW 9 billion was invested, including KRW 4.2 billion of national funds and KRW 4.8 billion of private capital from SK Plug Hyverse. 

It passed the final inspection on January 30 of this year and underwent about six months of trial operation for system stabilization. The facility has a capacity of 120 kg per hour, which is enough to charge about 120 hydrogen buses per day on average.

Meanwhile, the Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last May with seven companies*, 12 local governments**, and seven transportation companies*** to promote the conversion of corporate commuter buses to hydrogen buses. At that time, the parties to the agreement committed to working together to convert over 2,000 existing internal combustion engine commuter buses to hydrogen buses by 2026.

* Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, POSCO, POSCO E&C, SK Siltron, Hyundai Motor Company, SK E&S

** Seoul, Incheon, Busan, Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Seongnam, Pyeongtaek, Icheon, Cheongju, Pohang, Gumi

*** Korea Charter Bus Transportation Association, Busan Charter Bus Transportation Association, Zerocool Tour, Woojin Bus, New Zerocool Tour, Shinbaekseung Tour, Sudo Tour 

The Icheon Daheung Hydrogen Charging Station is characterized by its integration with the conversion of commuter buses to hydrogen buses. Once the Icheon Daheung Hydrogen Charging Station opens, SK Hynix in Icheon plans to convert 64 commuter buses to hydrogen buses this year, in addition to the four hydrogen commuter buses currently in operation.

※ The target for converting Icheon SK Hynix’s commuter buses to hydrogen buses is approximately 450 buses.

Jeong Seon-hwa, Director General of Air Quality Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, stated, “Companies operating hydrogen commuter buses not only contribute to improving air quality by reducing greenhouse gases and ultrafine dust, but also practice Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management, providing a pleasant commuting environment for their employees, thus achieving a triple benefit.” She added, “We will continue to make every effort to foster the hydrogen vehicle ecosystem.” 

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com