▶ Starting-up ceremony of HX12, the first domestically built hydrogen combustion engine;
▶ Signed an MOU with Korea Automotive Technology Institute for cooperation in kickstarting the hydrogen engine industry & full-scale technology development

HD Hyundai Infracore is kickstarting the full-scale development of the first domestically built hydrogen combustion engine.

On March 29, HD Hyundai Infracore successfully completed the starting-up ceremony of ‘HX12 Hydrogen Combustion Engine Unit 1’ at the first research building of its head office in Hwasu-dong, Incheon. This major ceremony is an event to start up the prototype engine for the first on the path toward time performance development for mass production after completing the design of the new engine. About 30 executives and employees, including Co-CEOs Cho Young-cheul and Oh Seung-hyun, attended the event to commemorate the arrival of Korea’s first hydrogen combustion engine geared toward carbon neutrality.

Hydrogen combustion engines are recognized as one of the three major powertrains that will achieve carbon neutrality, along with electric batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. Its major advantage lies in utilizing existing engine technology and facilities by changing the fuel supply system and injection system of existing internal combustion engines to obtain power through hydrogen combustion.

In particular, with the implementation of the Clean Hydrogen Energy Portfolio Standards (CHPS), which mandates power generation companies to use clean hydrogen starting this year, there is an outlook for growing demand for hydrogen power generation through the bidding market, so it is expected to become a future growth driver through incoming orders for large-scale hydrogen engine application power generation.

HD Hyundai Infracore was selected as the principal organization for the ‘Development of hydrogen engine systems and storage/supply systems for construction equipment and commercial vehicles’, a national agenda project of the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. It is currently developing Korea’s first-ever 300kW, 11L-class hydrogen combustion engine, and based on 100% hydrogen combustion, it is also developing an engine that can run on a fuel mixture of hydrogen and gas as needed.

Following the starting-up ceremony, an MOU signing ceremony was also held with the Korea Automotive Technology Institute for ‘Kickstarting the Hydrogen Engine Industry and Technology Development Cooperation’. In attendance at this ceremony were key officials from both companies, including Engine Business Sector Head-Executive Director Kim Joong-soo and Vice President Kim Hyun-cheul of the Korea Automotive Technology Institute.

With this MOU, HD Hyundai Infracore and the Korea Automotive Technology Institute will establish a joint cooperation system for developing innovative parts technology to be applied in the hydrogen engine business, and will undertake ▲ mutual cooperation on establishing a hydrogen engine technology base and ecosystem and ▲ activities for kickstarting hydrogen engine infrastructure and industrial base.

Engine Business Sector Head-Executive Director Kim Joong-soo of HD Hyundai Infracore said, “This business agreement represents an opportunity to expand hydrogen engine technology and infrastructure,” and added, “This will enable our company to successfully develop hydrogen engines through close exchanges and joint cooperation between the two on hydrogen engine technology development.”

Vice President Kim Hyun-cheul of the Korea Automotive Technology Institute said, “In the global arena, prominent countries are making diligent efforts to secure hydrogen engine technology as an alternative to eco-friendly engines,” and added, “We will contribute to the sustainable development of the eco-friendly automotive industry by developing more economical and efficient next-generation hydrogen engines in the future.”

HD Hyundai Infracore aims to install hydrogen engines in commercial vehicles and construction equipment by 2024 and commence mass production by 2025, with full-scale performance development well underway.

■ Photo caption: Photo of the business agreement signing for kickstarting the hydrogen engine industry & technology development cooperation between HD Hyundai Infracore & the Korea Automotive Technology Institute