3,000 hydrogen buses on the road: Hyundai reaches historic milestone in South Korea

3,000 hydrogen buses on the road: Hyundai reaches historic milestone in South Korea

Hyundai Motor has surpassed 3,000 cumulative hydrogen bus sales in South Korea — a milestone that demonstrates how quickly hydrogen is finding its way into public transport, and what it signals for broader adoption of the technology.

• 3,062 hydrogen buses sold in South Korea
• 751 km range of Elec City FCEV (city bus)
• 960 km range of Universe FCEV (highway bus)

FROM 1,000 TO 3,000 IN TWO YEARS

In early April 2026, Hyundai Motor announced that cumulative domestic sales of its hydrogen buses had reached 3,062 units. The pace is remarkable: the first 1,000 buses were sold in 2024, the 2,000th followed in 2025, and the counter has already moved well beyond that. This growth curve shows that hydrogen buses in South Korea are no longer a niche — they are becoming mainstream public transport.

Hyundai has been developing hydrogen technology since 1998 and launched the Elec City FCEV in 2019 — the world's first hydrogen city bus. In 2023, the Universe FCEV followed, a hydrogen highway bus designed for longer routes.

TWO MODELS, TWO ROLES

The Elec City FCEV is the city bus: equipped with a 180 kW fuel cell system, an 875-litre hydrogen tank and a 78.4 kWh lithium-ion battery. With a range of over 751 kilometres, it is suitable for busy bus routes without mid-day refuelling. Charging time is under 30 minutes.

The Universe FCEV is the larger sibling for longer routes. With a 350 kW electric motor and a range of nearly 960 kilometres, it comfortably exceeds the reach of most diesel buses. Notable: Hyundai became the first manufacturer in the world to apply magnetorheological fluid dampers in a bus, significantly improving ride stability and passenger comfort.

HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP AMBITION

Hyundai aims to convert all commuter buses at its own worksites to hydrogen by 2030. The group already operates 74 hydrogen commuter buses and will add another 55 this year. Hyundai also plans to expand its commercial EV after-sales service network to more than 40 locations across South Korea.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE HYDROGEN MARKET?

South Korea has ambitious targets: the government wants at least 21,200 hydrogen buses on the road and more than 660 filling stations by 2030. Hyundai's 3,000-unit milestone is a clear signal that the market is maturing — not just in volume, but in infrastructure too. Hyundai is working with partners such as SK E&S on liquid hydrogen systems for faster and more efficient refuelling points.

For the rest of the world — including the Netherlands — this is an important reference point. Where hydrogen passenger cars are still struggling to gain traction, the bus sector proves that hydrogen can scale. A range of 750 to 960 kilometres, a refuel time of under 30 minutes, and a CO₂ reduction of 72 tonnes per bus per year make the business case increasingly compelling.

RELEVANCE FOR THE NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands still has a relatively small fleet of hydrogen buses, but interest is growing. The recently adopted RED III legislation — which mandates green hydrogen in transport — also gives the bus sector a push. Hyundai's results in South Korea show what is possible when government, operators and industry join forces.