Aju Business Daily

SEOUL -- In an effort to reduce air pollution caused by fine dust and vehicle emissions, South Korea's transport ministry presented the idea of replacing the combustion engines of trucks and construction equipment gradually with hydrogen fuel cells and electric batteries by 2035.

The proposal was contained in a report presented by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Wednesday. The ministry called for the commercialization of hydrogen-powered trains after 2025.

Fine dust, which refers to particles smaller than 10 micrometers, causes various respiratory problems. China has been cited in South Korea as the main culprit for aggravating particulate pollution on the Korean peninsula, but experts also point to power plants and vehicles using fossil fuel.

South Korea has unveiled a roadmap to secure its firm leadership in the global market by producing 6.2 million fuel cell vehicles for domestic consumption and exports by 2040. Because of its eco-friendly characteristics, fuel cells are considered the next-generation renewable power source. Fuel cells produce heat, electricity and water through a thermochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.