Sejong, March 8 - On March 3, 2023, the Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) held a meeting to discover the demand for hydrogen-powered trucks, attended by public institutions, local governments, companies, and associations. During the meetings, the Ministry introduced the government’s hydrogen-powered truck distribution policy and discussed customized support plans for supply and demand between manufacturers of hydrogen-powered trucks and consumers such as local governments and logistics companies.

The Ministry of Environment has expanded its target of supplying hydrogen-powered trucks to 100 units in 2023 in connection with those trucks starting to sell in November 2022. Considering the fact that it is the initial stage of supplying hydrogen fuel cell trucks, the government plans to actively engage in discovering the demand for those trucks. In addition, the Ministry will build 68 more hydrogen fueling stations to boost the convenience of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Internal combustion engine trucks emit 153 times more fine particles (PM10) and 141 times more ultrafine particles (PM2.5) than passenger cars. Therefore, accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles (electric and hydrogen vehicles) will help reduce air pollutants. In particular, the newly released 11-ton hydrogen-powered cargo truck has an average daily mileage of 369.3 km, 32.4% higher than the mileage of 278.9 km for small- and medium-sized trucks of 1 to 3 tons. Substantial environmental improvements are expected due to the transition to zero-emission vehicles.

The government plans to increase the supply of 11-ton hydrogen-powered trucks to achieve carbon neutrality in the transportation sector. Through a hydrogen-powered truck pilot project in 2021, the government has operated five 11-ton hydrogen-powered trucks with major logistics companies for one year to assess their performance and utilize the results to expand the demand. Based on the results, the Ministry of Environment raised the per unit subsidy for hydrogen-powered trucks from KRW 200 million in 2021 to KRW 250 million in 2022 so that hydrogen-powered trucks can be purchased at a similar price to diesel trucks with the same loading capacity (KRW 160 ~ 210 million). The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) also provides a fuel subsidy of KRW 4,100 per 1 kg for hydrogen-powered trucks. The MOLIT is trying to build hydrogen fueling stations exclusively for trucks. Hydrogen trucks first supplied in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, at the end of 2022, will be used for selling local agricultural products in real-time using a live commerce platform while moving around during the first half of 2023. 

Park Yeon-jae, Director-General of the Air Quality Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Environment, stated, “Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are more suitable as large commercial vehicles because they have better mileage and shorter charging time than electric vehicles. The Ministry of Environment will continue discovering the demand for hydrogen-powered trucks currently in the early stages.”

Contact: Kim Yoo-ran, Deputy Director

Air Quality Future Strategy Division / +82-(0)44-201-6881

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr