- SK E&S, KD Transportation, and Hyundai Forge Alliance to Revolutionize Urban Transit with Hydrogen Buses
- Replacing 1,000 diesel buses with hydrogen buses would reduce 62,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 30 tons of ultrafine dust annually
SK E&S has joined forces with KD Transportation Group and Hyundai Motor Company to initiate the transition of metropolitan buses from conventional diesel to eco-friendly hydrogen fuel. This collaboration signifies a pivotal shift towards environmentally friendly public transit, with KD Transportation Group, Korea’s leading passenger transportation company, spearheading the adoption of hydrogen buses.
The partnership was formally established on the 27th, with the signing of a comprehensive agreement at the SK Seorin Headquarters, unveiled by SK E&S on the 28th. This agreement, celebrated by SK E&S CEO Choo Hyung-wook, KD Transportation Group CEO Sang-jun Heo, and Hyundai Motor Company Vice President Jeong Yu-seok, aims to cultivate a hydrogen-based mobility ecosystem in metropolitan areas.
As per the agreement, KD Transportation Group has pledged to convert 1,000 city and airport buses in the metropolitan area to hydrogen power by 2027, starting with an initial rollout of 100 buses this year. This ambitious plan also includes the development of a metropolitan garage dedicated to housing a liquefied hydrogen refueling station. Hyundai Motor Company is committed to providing the hydrogen buses in a timely manner and broadening the range of hydrogen mobility vehicles to strengthen the metropolitan area’s after-sales service network and hydrogen ecosystem.
SK E&S will be responsible for constructing more than six liquefied hydrogen refueling stations at KD Transportation Group’s metropolitan garages, guaranteeing a consistent supply of liquefied hydrogen for the buses. The company plans to produce up to 30,000 tons of liquefied hydrogen annually at its facility in Wonchang-dong, Incheon, starting from the first half of this year. Furthermore, the three parties intend to expand their cooperation on future hydrogen projects, which will include managing charging stations and transporting liquefied hydrogen.
KD Transportation Group, a major player in Korea’s land transportation industry with approximately 5,000 buses, manages over 30% of the metropolitan and city buses in Gyeonggi-do, totaling around 11,000 units. The initiative to adopt hydrogen buses is also gaining traction among various local governments, with Incheon City planning to introduce 700 hydrogen buses this year, aiming to become a leading hydrogen bus city. Other areas, including Pyeongtaek, Seongnam, Icheon, and Goyang in Busan and Gyeonggi Province, are in the process of transitioning to hydrogen buses.
This initiative is crucial for reducing air pollution, as large diesel buses emit significantly more greenhouse gases and fine dust compared to regular passenger cars. Converting these buses to hydrogen fuel is essential for achieving carbon neutrality in the transportation sector.
According to the Ministry of Environment, replacing 1,000 diesel buses with hydrogen buses would reduce 62,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 30 tons of ultrafine dust annually, offering environmental benefits worth over 30 billion won. This shift, particularly in densely populated metropolitan areas, is expected to significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, marking a critical step towards a more sustainable and cleaner future.
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