Hyundai details progress made in hydrogen mobility transition

Hyundai Motor Group recently co-hosted the Hydrogen Council Global CEO Summit, bringing together about 200 global leaders and policymakers, to set the strategic direction for the worldwide hydrogen industry and accelerate its transition.

The summit is led by the Hydrogen Council, comprised of energy, chemical, and automotive companies. It serves as a platform to share long-term visions for a transition to hydrogen and clean energy, according to a Hyundai press release. The summit theme was “Hydrogen 2030: Lead. Build. Deliver.”

According to the Hydrogen Council, the hydrogen industry is shifting from “ambition to delivery,” with $110 billion committed — an increase of $35 billion from last year and tenfold growth since 2020.

“Hydrogen is not only a climate solution but a cornerstone for energy security and industrial competitiveness,” said Jaehoon Chang, Hyundai Motor Group vice chair and co-chair of the Hydrogen Council, in the release. “This CEO Summit underscored a decisive shift for the hydrogen industry, moving beyond ambition to action as leaders aligned on practical steps to unlock demand, scale infrastructure, and accelerate global collaboration. The message from Seoul is clear: with solid policy support and strong public-private collaboration, the industry will deliver real impact.”

Leaders announced plans to prioritize demand creation, infrastructure growth, and global standards to scale hydrogen by 2030.

Government officials from Korea, France, Germany and Australia, along with the International Organization for Standardization President Sung Hwan Cho, reaffirmed demand-side policies and shared public-private investment roadmaps, according to the release. Advanced hydrogen market cases from leading Korean companies, including SK Innovation and Doosan Fuel Cell, were highlighted.

As co-chair of the Hydrogen Council, Hyundai Motor Group reinforced its leadership in advancing the clean energy transition by showcasing Korea’s hydrogen ecosystem, the release states.

Attendees took test drives in Hyundai’s all-new NEXO fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) and visited key hydrogen infrastructure sites, including the National Assembly hydrogen refueling station. Fifty NEXO SUVs and six UNIVERSE Fuel Cell buses were on site at the event.

Expanded hydrogen partnership

Last week, Hyundai Motor Group and Air Liquide announced the expansion of their partnership to accelerate the growth of the global hydrogen ecosystem.

The companies aim to advance global hydrogen adoption by combining resources, expertise, and leadership to progress hydrogen infrastructure, mobility, and innovation, “paving the way for carbon neutrality and a cleaner future,” a Hyundai press release states.

“The partnership will focus on scaling up hydrogen use across key regions, including Europe, Korea, and the United States, with specific emphasis on heavy-duty transport, logistics, and public transportation,” the release says. “By combining Air Liquide’s technical expertise with the Group’s leadership in mobility innovation, both companies will contribute to the development of a sustainable energy landscape and the achievement of carbon neutrality.”

Ken Ramirez, Hyundai Motor Group’s head of energy and hydrogen business division, added, “Hyundai Motor Group is proud to deepen its collaboration with Air Liquide to realize our shared vision of a hydrogen-powered future. Together, we are building a robust hydrogen value chain, from production to utilization, with the aim of making hydrogen a practical and sustainable solution for global energy challenges.”

Armelle Levieux, Air Liquide’s innovation, electronics, and hydrogen vice president, said collaborations between leaders across the value chain are essential to building the hydrogen economy.

“The progress we’ve made in Korea highlights what’s possible when industry leaders work together for a sustainable future,” she said.

Hyundai and Air Liquide plan to establish key hubs in the U.S., Europe, and Korea to foster hydrogen ecosystem growth, according to the release.

The partnership’s strategic initiatives include:

• • Developing hydrogen refueling networks and storage capacity to meet growing demand;
  • Establishing a hydrogen ecosystem covering low-carbon and renewable production, transportation, distribution, and utilization across mobility and other key sectors;
  • Innovation acceleration in hydrogen technologies; and
  • Commercializing FCEVs for diverse applications, including logistics fleets, public buses, and port operations.

The release states that the Hyundai Motor Group-Air Liquide partnership has already delivered tangible results in South Korea, setting a strong foundation for future growth, including:

• • Deployment of more than 2,000 hydrogen buses and 37,000 passenger FCEVs;
  • Collaboration on advanced hydrogen refueling stations through Hynet and Kohygen; and
  • Strengthened hydrogen capabilities with Lotte-Air Liquide Ener’Hy, the nation’s largest 450-bar Filling Center that offers cost-competitive solutions to support growing hydrogen demand.

“The strengthened partnership also underscores the companies’ global leadership in the hydrogen industry as co-chairs of the Hydrogen Council,” the release states. “The Group and Air Liquide will work together to drive international cooperation, industry standardization, and policy advocacy to accelerate the global hydrogen ecosystem’s expansion. As co-chairs of the Council, they reaffirmed their commitment to expanding hydrogen’s role in the global energy transition and decarbonization efforts.”

Images

Featured image: (From left to right) Ivana Jemelkova, Hydrogen Council CEO; Jaehoon Chang, Hyundai Motor Group vice chair; and François Jackow, Air Liquide CEO. (Photo provided by Hyundai Motor Group)