Public Backs Hydrogen Trucks in South Korea’s Freight Shift

While the transition to low-emission transport often faces resistance when costs are passed to the public, a new study from Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SEOULTECH) finds a notable exception in South Korea’s hydrogen truck strategy. The research reveals that households are willing to pay into the system to help scale hydrogen fuel cell trucks—especially in the heavy-duty segment, which contributes a disproportionately large share of emissions despite being a small fraction of road vehicles.

Based on interviews with 1,000 households nationwide, researchers applied a contingent valuation method to estimate how much the public would be willing to contribute annually via income tax toward the rollout of hydrogen-powered freight trucks. The outcome: an average annual willingness to pay of KRW 3,121 (about USD 2.28) per household from 2024 to 2033. When scaled nationally and discounted over time, this adds up to KRW 572 billion (USD 418 million) in present value.

This social valuation exceeds South Korea’s current carbon market pricing by a wide margin—more than sevenfold per ton of CO₂ reduced—suggesting that public support could outpace existing carbon pricing signals. For policymakers, the implication is clear: freight decarbonization may be more publicly viable, and potentially more socially profitable, than market instruments alone would suggest.

Cost Barriers and Policy Gaps Remain

Despite a positive outlook from the public, the study notes key implementation challenges. Infrastructure limitations are a top concern—most existing hydrogen refueling stations are situated at bus depots, making access difficult for logistics operators. Without strategic development of refueling points along freight corridors, scaling hydrogen truck adoption will be constrained.

There’s also a policy alignment issue. While hydrogen buses currently benefit from acquisition tax relief, equivalent incentives for heavy-duty trucks are not yet in place. Researchers argue that bridging this disparity is essential for encouraging fleet transitions among private logistics firms.

Regional disparities in support also emerged. Households in the Seoul Metropolitan Area reported higher willingness to pay compared to those in other regions, suggesting that awareness and outreach efforts will need to be tailored across geographic lines to ensure consistent national backing.

The report concludes that while upfront costs and operational hurdles remain, the presence of clear, measurable public support provides a strong foundation. With targeted infrastructure investment and more harmonized incentives, hydrogen trucks could play a significant role in South Korea’s freight decarbonization roadmap.