Demand Grows for Urban Hydrogen Charging Stations as Korea’s FCEV Fleet Nears 40,000 Units

With the number of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in South Korea approaching 40,000, calls are mounting for an expansion of urban hydrogen refueling infrastructure. FCEVs, often dubbed the "ultimate eco-friendly vehicles," emit only water instead of exhaust gases. Globally, only three brands—Hyundai Motor from Korea and Toyota and Honda from Japan—have launched mass-produced passenger FCEVs. As many countries face a temporary stagnation in battery electric vehicle (BEV) demand, interest in hydrogen vehicles continues to rise.

According to industry sources on the 28th, as of the end of March, the cumulative number of FCEVs in South Korea stood at 39,216 units. Given that government subsidies have been confirmed for over 13,000 FCEVs this year, the industry expects the cumulative figure to surpass 50,000 by year-end.

The domestic hydrogen vehicle market began in earnest with the launch of Hyundai’s Nexo in 2018. Cumulative sales surpassed 10,000 units in 2020 and reached around 30,000 units by 2023. This year, with the release of the Nexo’s successor, "The All-New Nexo," and the Ministry of Environment allocating KRW 721.8 billion in subsidies for more than 11,000 hydrogen passenger cars and 2,000 hydrogen buses, the industry projects that FCEV adoption will accelerate beyond the 50,000 mark.

However, the underdeveloped hydrogen infrastructure remains a major obstacle to wider adoption. Industry officials emphasize that in order to build a viable hydrogen ecosystem, support measures such as helping refueling station operators secure urban sites, offering tax benefits to ease financial burdens, and easing permit regulations are urgently needed.

As of the end of this month, there are a total of 218 hydrogen refueling stations installed nationwide. A hydrogen industry expert noted, "Some urban hydrogen stations have introduced a reservation system to reduce users' charging wait times," but added, "To popularize hydrogen vehicles, charging infrastructure must be expanded so that users can operate their vehicles as smoothly as internal combustion engine cars in daily life." Recently, Hyundai Motor developed a “high-pressure mobile hydrogen refueling station,” which is expected to help accelerate the expansion of urban hydrogen infrastructure.

Meanwhile, there is also an urgent need for government and local authorities to support refueling station operators by helping them secure urban sites and providing tax incentives to ease financial pressures. Some experts argue that establishing a dedicated national agency to stabilize the hydrogen supply chain is necessary. Currently, multiple ministries and organizations—including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea Petroleum Quality & Distribution Authority, and the Korea Gas Corporation—are involved in managing the hydrogen distribution network. However, there is no single entity overseeing the entire supply chain to stabilize hydrogen energy prices. By contrast, countries like the U.S. and China have national agencies dedicated to this task.

A hydrogen industry specialist stated, "If hydrogen stations were prioritized for installation at public offices, government agencies, and state-owned enterprises nationwide, the number of urban stations could increase significantly." They added, "Expanding urban hydrogen infrastructure would not only drastically improve convenience for FCEV users but also boost user numbers, leading to better financial conditions for station operators and accelerating further expansion."

On a global scale, with hydrogen vehicle adoption expanding, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced plans to publish separate statistics for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles starting this year. Previously, FCEVs were categorized together with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in IEA reports, making it difficult to track hydrogen vehicle sales. However, beginning with the "2025 World Energy Outlook" to be released this November, hydrogen vehicle statistics will be published separately.

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