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Hyundai Motor Group Donates Hydrogen Fuel Cell Support Bus for Firefighters’ Recovery in the Line of Duty

Releases • July 8, 2024

• Hyundai Motor Group provides a specially equipped Hydrogen Fuel Cell Support Bus to the Korean National Fire Agency, giving firefighters a mobile recovery space after extreme duty.
• Donation is highlighted by a campaign film telling firefighters’ stories and the positive impact of the Support Bus on operations and wellbeing.
• The initiative reflects the Group’s dedication to building a hydrogen ecosystem and accelerating a hydrogen society for the benefit of humanity.

SEOUL, July 8, 2024 – Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) has donated an innovative Hydrogen Fuel Cell Support Bus to the Korean National Fire Agency to provide firefighters with a dedicated location to recover from the extreme conditions they face when tackling blazes in the line of duty.

The unique Support Bus is based on the Hyundai Universe fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) and was designed with input from Korean firefighters. The vehicle was donated to the Fire Department on Korea’s Jeju Island, which also contributed to its configuration.

The donation is marked by a campaign video titled “Got Your Back – Hydrogen Fuel Cell Support Bus for Firefighters’ Recovery in the Line of Duty.” Narrated by Korean-American firefighter Peter Lee, the film highlights the risks firefighters face and underscores how the vehicle improves conditions by allowing crews to recover from grueling heat during operations.

Veteran firefighters in the video encourage junior colleagues to take necessary time-outs during intense firefighting, reinforcing the need to value their own lives as much as the lives of others — a message aligned with the Group’s commitment to progress for humanity.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Support Bus: An Innovative Solution for Firefighters

At large-scale incidents, firefighters are typically deployed in shifts with operational intervals of 20–30 minutes. During rest periods, crews can recover inside the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Support Bus. Powered by the Universe FCEV’s hydrogen fuel cell, the vehicle operates quietly with minimal vibration, providing an optimal recovery space while emitting only pure water.

The Support Bus features:

• U-shaped meeting space with sofas to create a communal atmosphere and improve interaction
• Premium reclining seats for a comfortable, restful recovery
• Compact cooking area for easy access to sustenance
• External air tent powered by the Support Bus
• High-pressure air gun to remove contaminants from rescue equipment
• High-pressure water gun to clean down firefighter apparatus
• Storage area for fire-resistant clothing to prevent potential secondary contamination

Hydrogen and oxygen supply the Universe FCEV’s fuel cell to generate electricity that powers the vehicle’s functions — including heating and air-conditioning — without generating carbon dioxide emissions.

Deployed on Jeju Island, known for its abundant clean energy sources and its commitment to the energy transition, the Support Bus demonstrates Hyundai’s existing hydrogen value chain — from production to storage, transportation and utilization — and its human-centric approach to mobility services, placing firefighters’ wellbeing at the center of the design.

Hyundai Motor Group’s Ambition for a Hydrogen Society

The Support Bus is fueled by green hydrogen produced at Jeju Island’s Green Hydrogen Production Complex and highlights the Group’s efforts to establish a hydrogen-based ecosystem and accelerate the development of a hydrogen society.

This commitment is reinforced by Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty trucks, now deployed in 10 countries including the U.S. and Switzerland. XCIENT trucks recently surpassed a cumulative 10 million km of driving in Switzerland, affirming the brand’s leadership in hydrogen technology and reliability.

Hyundai further strengthened its hydrogen leadership with the expansion of the HTWO brand — now encompassing the entire hydrogen value chain, from production and storage to transportation and utilization — and through key U.S. clean logistics projects such as the NorCAL ZERO Project and the Clean Logistics Project.

July 8, 2024