Incheon Metropolitan City (Korea), the Sister-City of Hai Phong, has been deploying eco-friendly hydrogen-powered buses for public transport in the city. This is the first-time Incheon City has introduced eco-friendly hydrogen buses for three bus routes including Route no. 13, Route no. 46, and Route no. 82. Indeed, the Route no. 13 has served transfer between Sinheung-dong and Geomam Station, the Rote no. 46 has run between Sinheung-dong and Gulpocheon River, and the Route no. 82 has served commuting between Sinheung-dong and Northern Square of Dong Incheon Station.
Hydrogencitybuses opened a new chapter of public transportation in Incheon City. Photo: Incheon Metropolitan City[1]
Before the eco-friendly hydrogen buses were put into operation, a driving test was organized with participation of Incheon Metropolitan City’s Mayor, Mr. Park Nam-chun, Incheon Metropolitan City Council’s Chairman, Mr. Shin Eun-ho, and representatives of relevant organizations of Incheon City.
The eco-friendly hydrogen buses’ operation has been grounded on hydrogen fuel cell technology application, in which hydrogen chemically reacts with oxygen in the air to generate power. In addition, hydrogen electricity has been considered a safe energy source and an ultimate measure for greenhouse gas emission elimination. Thanks to those pluses, the hydrogen buses would have expectedly met air pollution reduction and environment protection.
Interior design of a hydrogen-powered bus at Incheon.
Photo: Incheon Metropolitan City[2]
Based on the aforementioned start, Incheon City has planned to accelerate replacement of its current city buses with hydrogen buses by 2030. Also, the city has aimed to increase hydrogen charging stations to 20 by 2025 to make the foundation for hydrogen-driven vehicles in the City’s public transportation.
Having been knowing for the third largest city in South Korea, owning International Airport, International Port, Songdo International City, modern underground facilities well serving urban life quality, Incheon Metropolitan City has done attempts to pursuit eco-friendly transformation, planning to become a CO2 neutral city with targets to achieve net zero CO2 by 2050 through various measures including electric vehicles by 2025. Besides the current outstanding move of inner city bus routes run by hydrogen energy, at Incheon International Airport, T2 hydrogen refueling station establishment has been completed and put into operation, that would serve hydrogen buses and commuting cars. With a capacity of delivering one ton of hydrogen each day, the Airport T2 hydrogen refueling station could serve 40 buses or 180 commuting cars daily[3].
Implementation of hydrogen-powered inner public buses and the Airport T2 hydrogen refueling station have shown first steps of Incheon Metropolitan City in realization of its strategy to become not only a global city but also an international logistic hub, going in line with eco-friendly and sustainable measures to growing green and living green.
Promotion of Hai Phong – Incheon Relation. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs
Having been in sister-city relation with Incheon Metropolitan City since 1997, Hai Phong has been making efforts internally and externally to catch up on opportunities brought by regional and international economic integration for its socio-economic development. Bilateral relations between Hai Phong and Incheon cities have been deepening in certain fields such as health care or education. For instance, cooperation in tech research and development and renewable energy sources has had room to get exploited. As clarified in Resolution no. 45 issued by the Politburo, development of a green, smart, and civilized urban attached closely with environment protection and climate change resilience, a green transformation from conventional to eco-friendly fueling manners including renewable-powered vehicles ought to be a consideration to Hai Phong City on its path towards a leading city in Asia and the world by 2045./.[1]https://www.incheon.go.kr/en/EN020401/2077016
[2]https://www.incheon.go.kr/en/EN020401/2077016
[3]https://energies.airliquide.com/air-liquide-completed-incheon-international-airport-hydrogen-station-buses-and-starts-its-long-term