[GLOBAL ECONOMIC TIMES]  Doosan Group enters the hydrogen bus market. Doosan Group will launch a hydrogen bus equipped with Korea's largest capacity hydrogen fuel cell as early as next month.

It is expected to be recorded as the second case of mass production of hydrogen buses in Korea, following Hyundai Motor Group. Attention is being paid to whether Doosan Group's actions will contribute to expanding the base of hydrogen buses.

According to the industry on the 28th, it was confirmed that Hi-Exium Motors, a subsidiary of Doosan Pure Cell, a Doosan Group affiliate, has confirmed the launch of two types of hydrogen buses and is undergoing government certification procedures.

The two types of hydrogen buses are an 11m class large city bus (low floor type) and a metropolitan bus (high floor type). Hi-Exium Motors collaborated with a global hydrogen bus company to jointly design and develop a hydrogen bus.

The hydrogen bus is equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell developed by Doosan Pure Cell, allowing it to run 500 to 600 km on a single charge. The low-floor model is expected to be equipped with Korea's largest capacity hydrogen fuel cell of 200kW, which is larger than the hydrogen fuel cell (180kW) installed by Hyundai Motor Company in its hydrogen bus 'Electrity'. At the same time, it is equipped with an 87kWh lithium-ion battery, making it advantageous for long-distance routes, routes with many traffic delays, and hilly sections.

If Doosan Group launches a hydrogen bus, there is a high possibility that it will split the domestic hydrogen bus market with Hyundai Motor Company. Woojin Industrial Systems and Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicles are currently developing hydrogen buses.

Doosan Group's launch of hydrogen buses is interpreted as a stepping stone to meet the government's demand for expanding the supply of hydrogen buses and to stably utilize the hydrogen fuel cell technology capabilities accumulated by Doosan Fuel Cell.

Not only can we immediately build a hydrogen value chain connecting Doosan Fuel Cell (hydrogen fuel cell) and Hi-Exium Motors (hydrogen bus), but it is also possible to expand into hydrogen mobility starting with hydrogen buses.

Previously, the government established a plan to supply 21,200 hydrogen metropolitan buses by 2030 and convert 25% of all metropolitan buses in the metropolitan area to hydrogen buses.

An industry official said, “The entry of large companies such as Doosan Group into the hydrogen bus market is positive in terms of market growth.” According to market research firm SNE Research, the size of the hydrogen vehicle market, including domestic hydrogen buses, is expected to reach 1.05 million units by 2030.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Company also plans to continue introducing hydrogen buses. It acquired the hydrogen fuel cell business division from Hyundai Mobis and plans to install newly developed hydrogen fuel cells in hydrogen passenger and commercial vehicles.