Hyundai passes 3,000 hydrogen buses sold in South Korea

Hyundai has surpassed 3,000 cumulative hydrogen bus sales in South Korea. According to Seoul Economic Daily, citing a company announcement, cumulative domestic sales reached 3,062 units. This figure demonstrates that hydrogen in public transport is no longer a vision for the future: these buses operate daily, on regular routes, carrying real passengers.

From city street to highway

Hyundai produces two hydrogen bus models. The Elec City FCEV is an urban bus that launched in 2019 as the world's first mass-produced hydrogen city bus. It features a 180 kW fuel cell system, an 875-litre hydrogen tank and a 78.4 kWh lithium-ion battery, giving it a range of over 750 kilometres per fill.

The Universe FCEV, introduced in 2023 as an intercity bus, received a major upgrade in 2025. The new 2026 model achieves a range of up to 960 kilometres — with refuelling taking around ten to fifteen minutes. Motor output has increased to 350 kW, and a new dual-motor setup improves regenerative braking and enables smoother gear transitions. This makes the Universe FCEV one of the longest-range hydrogen buses in the world.

Ambitious growth plans in Korea

Hyundai has signed an agreement with KD Transport Group — South Korea's largest land transport operator — to convert 1,000 buses in the Seoul metropolitan area to hydrogen by 2027. The company also aims to transition all of the Hyundai Group's own commuter buses to hydrogen by 2030.

These are not vague promises: the ecosystem is in place. Refuelling stations exist, buses are running, routes are operating. The benefits of scale are beginning to show.

European ambitions through Iveco

Beyond Korea, Hyundai is making strides in Europe. Through its partnership with Iveco Group, Hyundai developed the E-WAY H2 city bus, equipped with Hyundai's HTWO fuel cell system. The bus is already in service with Wiener Linien in Vienna and in the Graz region in Austria. Trial runs on public routes in Bavaria, Germany, are also underway.

The European case is clear: where battery buses struggle with long shifts, heavy routes and mountainous terrain, hydrogen offers the combination of fast refuelling and long range that operators need.

Hydrogen replaces diesel, not the battery bus

It is worth emphasising that hydrogen buses primarily compete with diesel buses, not with battery-electric buses. They are most relevant for routes with high energy demands, long operational hours and limited charging opportunities. That is precisely where — on the heaviest bus lines, mountain passes and long intercity connections — hydrogen makes the difference.

With 3,062 buses on the road in South Korea alone, one thing is clear: this is no longer an experiment.

Sources:

• Seoul Economic Daily – Hyundai hydrogen bus cumulative sales pass 3,000 (April 2026)
• Fuel Cells Works – Hyundai reaches 3,000 hydrogen bus milestone (April 2026)
• H2 View – Hyundai launches Universe hydrogen bus with 960 km range (August 2025)
• KED Global – Hyundai passes 1,000 Elec City FCEV (October 2024)
• Hyundai Electrified Commercial Vehicles – ecv.hyundai.com