Automaker gives hydrogen pitch to governors

Hyundai Motor Executive Vice Chairman Euisun Chung speaks Saturday at the U.S. National Governors Association Winter Summit in Washington. [HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP]

Hyundai Motor Group continued its campaign for a hydrogen-based future as its top executive took the stage last week in the United States to introduce the automaker group’s developing technologies and strategies for eco-friendly mobility.

Hyundai Motor Executive Vice Chairman Euisun Chung took the stage at the U.S. National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Summit as a representative of Korean business circles Hyundai Motor Group said Sunday. Chung was there to talk with participating U.S. state governors about prospects for hydrogen energy-based mobility and the formation of smart cities.

Governors and officials from 30 U.S. states and 140 invited officials from Korea participated in the summit, held over the weekend at the Korean Embassy in Washington. The NGA holds two receptions each year for 50 U.S. states and 5 U.S. territories to discuss inter-state government collaboration and policy issues.

It was the Korean Embassy’s first time hosting an NGA summit.

Chung showcased how the Nexo hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle can purify air with its three-stage system, and mentioned the possibility of expanding supplies of Hyundai Motor’s fuel cells in the U.S. market.

In September, the automaker signed an agreement with American manufacturing company Cummins to jointly develop and commercialize electric and fuel-cell powertrains.

The executive vice chairman spoke with several state governors to discuss the prospect of autonomous driving, mobility services and urban air mobility, Hyundai Motor Group added.

Last year, Hyundai Motor Group signed a $4 billion agreement with Aptiv to co-develop autonomous driving software, continuing the conglomerate’s goal of commercializing self-driving cars by 2024 and flying cars by 2025. It also established a company based in Los Angeles to provide car-sharing services with Ioniq plug-in hybrid electric vehicles at the city’s four main train stations.

Chung has been frequently appearing in public to advocate for the company’s hydrogen initiatives and new mobility technologies. Those two projects are at the center of Hyundai Motor Group’s plan to invest 100 trillion won ($83.9 billion) over the next five years.

Chung also spoke at the Hydrogen Council’s annual meeting in Paris to argue for more cost cutting to expand the use of renewable energy sources.

BY KO JUN-TAE [ko.juntae@joongang.co.kr]