IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i6p2507-d1610957.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Current Challenges to Achieving Mass-Market Hydrogen Mobility from the Perspective of Early Adopters in South Korea

Author

Listed:
  • Jiyoung Park

    (Korea Transport Institute, Sejong-si 30147, Republic of Korea)

  • Chansung Kim

    (Korea Transport Institute, Sejong-si 30147, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Hydrogen mobility is expected to be a crucial element in decarbonizing fossil fuel-based transportation. In South Korea, hydrogen mobility has successfully formed an early market led by fuel cell passenger cars under strong support policies. Nevertheless, the fuel cell vehicle (FCV) market is still in its infancy, and current challenges must be overcome to achieve mass-market adoption. This study aims to identify the current challenges in the diffusion of FCVs in Korea. We identified the key challenges facing FCVs from a consumer perspective with data from the latest FCV customer survey. The data were applied to estimate ordered logit models of fuel cell car satisfaction and purchase intention. Significant challenges in Korea were identified from the perspective of vehicles, infrastructure, and renewable energy. Vehicle-related challenges include concerns about vehicle durability, such as recalls and repairs, and maintenance and repair costs. Infrastructure-related challenges include the fueling accessibility and fueling failures due to hydrogen refueling station facility failures, or hydrogen supply problems. Challenges related to renewable energy include the low proportion of hydrogen from renewable sources. To achieve the large-scale diffusion of FCVs, it is important to maintain support policies and attract new FCV demand, such as long-distance heavy-duty vehicles.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiyoung Park & Chansung Kim, 2025. "Current Challenges to Achieving Mass-Market Hydrogen Mobility from the Perspective of Early Adopters in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2507-:d:1610957
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2507/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2507/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rosales-Tristancho, Abel & Brey, Raúl & Carazo, Ana F. & Brey, J. Javier, 2022. "Analysis of the barriers to the adoption of zero-emission vehicles in Spain," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 19-43.
    2. Guo, Xiaopeng & Li, Wenjing & Ren, Dongfang & Chu, Junhui, 2025. "Prospects for the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    3. Kim, Jae Hun & Lee, Gunwoo & Park, Ji Young & Hong, Jungyeol & Park, Juneyoung, 2019. "Consumer intentions to purchase battery electric vehicles in Korea," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 736-743.
    4. Jae-Eun Shin, 2022. "Hydrogen Technology Development and Policy Status by Value Chain in South Korea," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-19, November.
    5. Eunsung Kim & Eunnyeong Heo, 2019. "Key Drivers behind the Adoption of Electric Vehicle in Korea: An Analysis of the Revealed Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Hardman, Scott & Shiu, Eric & Steinberger-Wilckens, Robert & Turrentine, Thomas, 2017. "Barriers to the adoption of fuel cell vehicles: A qualitative investigation into early adopters attitudes," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 166-182.
    7. Qusay Hassan & Itimad D. J. Azzawi & Aws Zuhair Sameen & Hayder M. Salman, 2023. "Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles: Opportunities and Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-26, July.
    8. Gautam Patil & Gayatri Pode & Boucar Diouf & Ramchandra Pode, 2024. "Sustainable Decarbonization of Road Transport: Policies, Current Status, and Challenges of Electric Vehicles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-41, September.
    9. Wu, Yunna & Liu, Fangtong & He, Jiaming & Wu, Man & Ke, Yiming, 2021. "Obstacle identification, analysis and solutions of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for application in China under the carbon neutrality target," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    10. Ogden, Joan M., 2018. "Prospects for Hydrogen in the Future Energy System," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt52s28641, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    11. Ajanovic, A. & Glatt, A. & Haas, R., 2021. "Prospects and impediments for hydrogen fuel cell buses," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    12. Olivier Bethoux, 2020. "Hydrogen Fuel Cell Road Vehicles: State of the Art and Perspectives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-28, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fajar Nurrohman Haryadi & Arionmaro Asi Simaremare & Shochrul Rohmatul Rohmatul & Dzikri Firmansyah Hakam & Kevin Gausultan Hadith Mangunkusumo, 2023. "Investigating the Impact of Key Factors on Electric/Electric-Vehicle Charging Station Adoption in Indonesia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(3), pages 434-442, May.
    2. Zhao, Tian & Liu, Zhixin & Jamasb, Tooraj, 2022. "Developing hydrogen refueling stations: An evolutionary game approach and the case of China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    3. Wu, Yunna & Liu, Fangtong & He, Jiaming & Wu, Man & Ke, Yiming, 2021. "Obstacle identification, analysis and solutions of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for application in China under the carbon neutrality target," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    4. Pedro Gerber Machado & Ana Carolina Rodrigues Teixeira & Edmilson Moutinho dos Santos & Dominique Mouette, 2023. "Electric vehicles adoption: A systematic review (2016–2020)," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(5), September.
    5. Li, Yanfei & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad, 2022. "The economic feasibility of green hydrogen and fuel cell electric vehicles for road transport in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    6. Berliner, Rosaria, 2018. "Drivers of Change in a World of Mobility Disruption: An Overview of Long Distance Travel, Shared Mobility, and Automated Vehicles," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt6r64v86z, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    7. Das, Himadry Shekhar & Tan, Chee Wei & Yatim, A.H.M., 2017. "Fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles: A review on power conditioning units and topologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 268-291.
    8. Ju-Yeol Ryu & Sungho Park & Changhyeong Lee & Seonghyeon Hwang & Jongwoong Lim, 2023. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrogen–Natural Gas Blended Fuels for 400 MW Combined Cycle Power Plants (CCPPs)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-19, September.
    9. Carlo, Mr. Antonio & Breda, Dr. Paola, 2024. "Impact of space systems capabilities and their role as critical infrastructure," International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    10. Hong, Sanghyun & Kim, Eunsung & Jeong, Saerok, 2023. "Evaluating the sustainability of the hydrogen economy using multi-criteria decision-making analysis in Korea," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 485-492.
    11. Zhou, Jianli & Chen, Zhuohao & Wu, Shuxian & Yang, Cheng & Wang, Yaqi & Wu, Yunna, 2024. "Potential assessment and development obstacle analysis of CCUS layout in China: A combined interpretive model based on GIS-DEMATEL-ISM," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    12. Jacobus Nel & Roula Inglesi-Lotz, 2022. "Electric Vehicles Market and Policy Conditions: Identifying South African Policy ``Potholes"," Working Papers 202257, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    13. Bošković, Sara & Švadlenka, Libor & Jovčić, Stefan & Simic, Vladimir & Dobrodolac, Momčilo & Elomiya, Akram, 2024. "Sustainable propulsion technology selection in penultimate mile delivery using the FullEX-AROMAN method," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    14. Park, Joungho & Kang, Sungho & Kim, Sunwoo & Kim, Hana & Kim, Sang-Kyung & Lee, Jay H., 2024. "Optimizing green hydrogen systems: Balancing economic viability and reliability in the face of supply-demand volatility," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 368(C).
    15. Jia, Wenjian & Jiang, Zhiqiu & Wang, Qian & Xu, Bin & Xiao, Mei, 2023. "Preferences for zero-emission vehicle attributes: Comparing early adopters with mainstream consumers in California," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 21-32.
    16. Zhao, Lei & Yuan, Hao & Xie, Jiaping & Jiang, Shangfeng & Wei, Xuezhe & Tang, Wei & Ming, Pingwen & Dai, Haifeng, 2023. "Inconsistency evaluation of vehicle-oriented fuel cell stacks based on electrochemical impedance under dynamic operating conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    17. Jiaming Zhou & Chunxiao Feng & Qingqing Su & Shangfeng Jiang & Zhixian Fan & Jiageng Ruan & Shikai Sun & Leli Hu, 2022. "The Multi-Objective Optimization of Powertrain Design and Energy Management Strategy for Fuel Cell–Battery Electric Vehicle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-19, May.
    18. Gianmarco Gottardo & Andrea Basso Peressut & Silvia Colnago & Saverio Latorrata & Luigi Piegari & Giovanni Dotelli, 2023. "LCA of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Considering Different Power System Architectures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-19, September.
    19. Zhang, Nan & Lu, Yiji & Kadam, Sambhaji & Yu, Zhibin, 2023. "A fuel cell range extender integrating with heat pump for cabin heat and power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    20. Nithin Isaac & Akshay Kumar Saha, 2023. "Analysis of Refueling Behavior Models for Hydrogen-Fuel Vehicles: Markov versus Generalized Poisson Modeling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-16, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2507-:d:1610957. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.