Global automakers are reviving hydrogen fuel cell plans for heavy-duty transport, while Korea seeks to chart a path to growing both demand and infrastructure.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles are making a comeback in the global auto industry, but Korea is struggling to build momentum at home.
Renewed interest in hydrogen, particularly for mobility, reflects a growing concern that battery-powered EVs and hybrid vehicles have limitations for long-distance driving and heavy-duty transportation.
On the other hand, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCV) convert hydrogen into electricity to power an electric motor. Hydrogen reacts with oxygen in a fuel cell stack to generate electricity, with water as the only tailpipe emission. The abundance of the element gives it potential as a means of transportation.
China is expanding its use of hydrogen beyond just cars. It is venturing into areas such as large-scale green hydrogen production, according to speakers at the 2026 Korea-China hydrogen policy forum held in Jung District, central Seoul, on Thursday.
Prof. Yang, Fuyuan of Tsinghua University said,
Hydrogen energy is not meant to replace electricity,
“It is a complementary infrastructure that can make renewable energy more useful and support its wider adoption.”
Fang Haifeng, a chief expert at the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, said,
We plan to expand hydrogen demand beyond transportation and into the industrial and energy sectors,
In Korea, Hyundai Motor has rolled out HFCVs including the NEXO SUV and Xcient truck. The automaker also announced plans in February to build an AI-powered hydrogen city in the Saemangeum area in North Jeolla.
Uni Hong, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group’s Energy & Hydrogen Business Division, said,
Rather than judging hydrogen solely by how quickly it is adopted in the short term, we need to develop the technology and the market together until stable supply and demand take shape,
“Companies need a predictable policy environment that allows them to keep investing [in the hydrogen energy sector] over the long term. We also need to consider the role hydrogen can play in diversifying our energy sources, rather than viewing it solely as a fuel for mobility.”
Hydrogen mobility is also regaining momentum in Europe.
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Korea – Hydrogen back on automakers road maps, especially for buses and trucks, source