 |
| Universe FCEV hydrogen bus (Photo: Hyundai Motor) |
[Alpha Economy=Reporter Moon Seon-jeong] Hyundai Motor Co. said its cumulative domestic sales of hydrogen fuel-cell electric buses have topped 3,000 units.
Hyundai said on April 2 that, as of March, cumulative domestic sales in South Korea reached 3,062 buses.
Hyundai has pursued hydrogen R&D since 1998, establishing a strong technical foundation. The company introduced the Elec City FCEV in 2019 and the Universe FCEV in 2023 as part of efforts to grow the hydrogen commercial-vehicle market.
Hyundai’s hydrogen buses reached 1,000 cumulative domestic sales in 2024, exceeded 2,000 in 2025, and have climbed rapidly to surpass 3,000 this year.
The milestone reflects expanding market demand for hydrogen buses across city and commuter routes, combined with proactive deployment plans from local governments.
The Elec City FCEV is fitted with a 180 kW hydrogen fuel-cell system, a 180 kW motor delivering a peak torque of 4,500 Nm, and a 78.4 kWh high‑power lithium‑ion battery.
With an optimized motor, a high-performance fuel-cell system and class-leading hydrogen tank capacity, the Elec City can travel up to 751.2 km (about 467 miles) on a single refueling.
The Universe FCEV uses a 180 kW hydrogen fuel-cell system paired with a 350 kW motor that produces 1,800 Nm of peak torque and a 48.2 kWh high‑power lithium‑ion battery.
Hyundai applied MR dampers—the first application of this technology in its class—to improve ride comfort and driving stability. The Universe FCEV can cover up to 960.4 km (about 597 miles) on a single refueling.
Hyundai Motor Group currently operates 74 hydrogen commuter buses and plans to add 55 more this year, bringing the total to 129. The group aims to convert its entire commuter-bus fleet to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles by 2030.
To support wider adoption, Hyundai will expand commercial electrified after-sales service hubs to more than 40 locations.
Policy and infrastructure measures are also advancing to support hydrogen-bus deployment. The 2026 national subsidy program for hydrogen buses is slated to cover 1,800 units.
Today, 80 large-capacity hydrogen refueling stations capable of servicing buses are in operation, and 21 additional stations are scheduled to be added by 2026.
Trending Now
- KEPCO: Rising oil prices make earnings damage unavoidable — rating 'Neutral'
- Hyosung Heavy Industries develops Korea's first 'carbon-zero' 145 kV circuit breaker
- Harim launches four 'Direct-Fire Flavor Pocha' items, using a direct-fire boosting technique to maximize flavor
