Maintenance upgrades to address charging station breakdowns

Expansion of charging infrastructure and hydrogen vehicle supply

A hydrogen-electric tractor charges at the Taehwagang Station hydrogen charging facility in Ulsan, which has undergone improvements to its charging system. [Provided by Ulsan city government]
A hydrogen-electric tractor charges at the Taehwagang Station hydrogen charging facility in Ulsan, which has undergone improvements to its charging system. [Provided by Ulsan city government]

Ulsan, which is pursuing a vision of becoming a "hydrogen city" with hydrogen as its primary energy source, will advance four initiatives to create the best possible conditions for hydrogen vehicle use: providing charging information, ensuring stable maintenance of charging stations, installing additional stations, and expanding the supply of hydrogen vehicles.

To help drivers check station locations, operating hours and prices before heading out, the city will promote the hydrogen retail information apps Hying and H2 Care through public notice boards on bus information terminals at bus stops.

To ensure stable station operations, the city will strengthen preventive maintenance and emergency repairs and upgrade aging charging equipment. Ulsan has secured 1.2 billion won ($876,000) in maintenance funding for hydrogen charging stations this year. The move comes as warranty periods expire at stations built during the early rollout phase and maintenance demand for major equipment is expected to rise due to aging infrastructure.

The city will also tighten supply schedule management at individual stations to ensure hydrogen is delivered and replaced during low-traffic hours, minimizing charging downtime.

To expand 24-hour charging coverage, the city has asked Hyundai Motor Company to install a round-the-clock hydrogen charging station in addition to the existing Gyeongdong hydrogen charging station in Buk-gu. The Gyeongdong station currently sees an average of only 10 to 12 vehicles charging during late-night and early-morning hours, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

To broaden the charging network, the city is installing a liquid hydrogen charging station in Deokha, Ulju-gun, and a hydrogen charging station in Yaeum-dong, Nam-gu, operated by a hydrogen energy network. It also plans to build stations at the Nongso public bus depot in Buk-gu and at the Nammok general automobile industrial complex in Dong-gu.

The city will continue expanding its hydrogen vehicle fleet. As of July, 3,739 hydrogen electric vehicles were in operation in Ulsan, and the city plans to add 400 more this year — 307 passenger cars, 90 buses and three freight vehicles.

Going forward, Ulsan plans to pursue not only broader hydrogen vehicle supply and charging infrastructure expansion but also stable operation of existing facilities, upgrades to aging equipment and improved charging information services, with the aim of strengthening hydrogen mobility policy in ways drivers can tangibly feel.


cityblue@heraldcorp.com