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Hyundai Motor Company announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hyundai Global Services, a ship electric propulsion systems specialist, and Korean Register (KR), South Korea’s only internationally recognized classification society.
The strategic partnership will involve the application of Hyundai Motor Company’s fuel cell system technology in the manufacturing of ships, according to the MoU signed between the three parties.
The parties hope to pave the way for a new wave of seagoing vessels.
The fuel cell systems will be supplied by Hyundai Motor Company, which will also provide technical support. The fuel cell-based propulsion systems will be manufactured and sold by Hyundai Global Services. Korea Register (KR) will establish type approval standards that all fuel cell-powered vessels must meet in order to be approved for commercial use.
The project plans to launch a small-scale model into the green vessel market in the second half of 2022. The three will focus on developing and introducing the systems into mid- and large-sized vessels in the medium to long term.
Hyundai Motor Company has a proven track record in the automotive industry with fuel cell system technologies, and with this collaboration, the company is actively looking to expand its application of such technology into other industries such as sea vessels, railways, and power generation.
Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai Motor Company’s parent company, recently unveiled ‘HTWO,’ a new brand that represents the company’s world-leading hydrogen fuel cell system.
“This MOU signals Hyundai Motor’s entry into the fuel cell-powered marine vessel market, made possible through our cooperation with Hyundai Global Service and Korean Register,” said Saehoon Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Fuel Cell Center at Hyundai Motor Group.
“We hope our decades-long experience and capabilities in hydrogen fuel cell technologies, combined with the expertise of Hyundai Global Service and Korean Register in the maritime industry, will usher in a new era of greener and cleaner shipping.”
In addition, the collaboration is expected to serve as a platform to identify and evaluate business opportunities for fuel cell-powered ships, and position Hyundai Motor Company as a leader in eco-friendly vessels and hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion systems, globally.
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