A Step Toward Hydrogen-based Society
Hyundai Mobis has taken its first step toward building a “hydrogen society.” Going beyond simple production of vehicles, the auto parts supplier introduced a power generation system that utilizes the core parts of hydrogen-powered electric cars to supply electric power. Auto industry experts say that Hyundai Mobis has demonstrated the possibility of using hydrogen to power trains, ships, and construction machines.
Hyundai Mobis announced on Feb. 13 that it recently completed and started operating an emergency hydrogen power generation system in a hydrogen fuel cell plant in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province.
The system will be used as an emergency power source in the event of a power outage and as an auxiliary power source for a surge in demand in high seasons. This was the first time hydrogen was used in the non-automotive sector, Hyundai Mobis explained. The company is planning to install the emergency power generation system in other domestic and overseas production bases.
The hydrogen emergency power generation system is based on a hydrogen fuel cell module for the Nexo, a hydrogen car currently being mass produced. Five hydrogen fuel cells for automobiles were connected side by side in parallel to form a 450 kW power generation system. This is about 7 percent of the total power requirement of Chungju Plant.
Hyundai Mobis is considered a key player in realizing Hyundai Motor Group’s vision to build a hydrogen-based society. It is the only company in the world with an integrated production line that produces fuel cell stacks, drive motors, power conversion parts and hydrogen supply devices.
Hyundai Mobis said at the end of last year that the company planned to expand its production capacity from 3,000 hydrogen fuel cell systems to 40,000 units by 2022. Hyundai Motor Group intends to expand its capacity to 700,000 hydrogen fuel cell systems -- 500,000 for hydrogen cars and 200,000 for ships and trains -- by 2030.