Develops Hydrogen Tram Technology, South Korea Budgets IDR 514 Billion

The prototype 'K-hydrogen tram'. (Source: Hyundai Rotem.Co)

JAKARTA - South Korea announced on Thursday an investment plan worth 42.4 billion won, or around Rp. 514,696,252,968 by 2023, to develop the core technology of hydrogen-powered trams.

The budget will also be spent on finding ways to modify the hydrogen fuel cell used by Hyundai Motor's Nexo SUV and use it in trams, according to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy.

Hydrogen trams, which use fuel cells, are considered more competitive in price than conventional public transport, such as the subway, because they do not require a large electrical infrastructure.

"The global market for hydrogen-powered trains is expected to reach 18 trillion won by 2050, a significant increase from the 700 billion won estimated in 2025," according to the ministry, citing the Korea Times Sept. 23.

The ministry said it plans to develop a hydrogen fuel cell with a capacity of 380 kilowatts, the performance of which is equivalent to about four Nexo SUVs.

In addition, South Korea will also build a hydrogen filling station for trams by 2022 and launch trials in the southeastern port city of Ulsan. Mass production of hydrogen trams is expected to begin in 2024, with the country looking to export it to Southeast Asian countries and Europe as well.

Hydrogen tram digital visualization. (Source: Hyundai Rotem.Co)

South Korea has been promoting a so-called hydrogen economy, with the government making efforts to apply resources in areas from transportation to energy storage in line with its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

Last April, Hyundai Rotem unveiled the prototype of the 'K-hydrogen Tram', the first hydrogen tram in the Ginseng Country. The launch took place at the Changwon plant in South Gyeongsang Province, with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Sung Yun-mo and South Gyeongsang Governor Kim Kyoung-soo in attendance on April 19.

Citing Hankyoreh April 20, the Hyundai Rotem hydrogen-powered tram prototype consists of three cars and can carry up to 100 people at a time. The tram uses the same hydrogen fuel cell module as Hyundai Motor's NEXO, along with high-pressure hydrogen tanks designed for hydrogen-powered buses and lithium-ion propulsion batteries for trains.

In particular, hydrogen tanks can withstand twice as much pressure as those developed in France and elsewhere, meaning that twice as much hydrogen can fit in a tank of the same size.

The prototype can travel 150 kilometers (km) at a speed of 70km/h with a full 42 kilogram hydrogen tank. In addition, this tram can also be driven manually or remotely.