A trial run of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks began as part of South Korea’s broader attempts to transition to environmentally friendly vehicles in line with the country’s carbon reduction program.
Five 11-ton fuel cell trucks, including Hyundai Motor Co.’s Xcient, will operate on Seoul metropolitan area and southern region roadways for the next 12 months, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport said in a statement.
Two logistics businesses – CJ Logistics Corp. and Hyundai Glovis Co. – as well as e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. will also be involved in the initiative, which will involve the delivery of international express goods and steel plates. Subsidies and charging stations, among other things, will be provided by the government.
According to the ministry, the government would use the project to collect data necessary for evaluating and establishing the overall hydrogen-based logistics system.
South Korea’s deployment of fuel cell heavy-duty vehicles for transportation is in its infancy. Electric vehicles make up a small percentage of light trucks.
The government intends to have 10,000 fuel cell trucks on the road by 2030 through a variety of state-led initiatives, including the expansion of charging stations and the provision of a purchasing subsidy.
According to the ministry, replacing one 10-ton cargo truck with an eco-friendly vehicle has a similar effect on greenhouse gas emissions reduction as replacing 13 one-ton cargo vehicles.
According to the latest government data, greenhouse gas emissions from cargo transportation by cars in South Korea reached around 28 million tons, accounting for approximately 30% of overall carbon emissions from the transportation sector.
