Industrial gases leader Air Liquide and Hyundai Motor Group have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the global hydrogen economy by establishing major development hubs in Europe, the United States, and South Korea.
The renewed partnership—announced during the Hydrogen Council CEO Summit in Seoul—extends beyond mobility to include hydrogen infrastructure, logistics, and clean energy solutions. The updated Memorandum of Understanding strengthens collaboration by combining Air Liquide’s industrial and technical expertise with Hyundai’s leadership in hydrogen mobility.
The joint effort will prioritize scaling hydrogen adoption across heavy-duty transport, logistics, and public transportation. A core focus includes expanding hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and storage capacity to meet rising demand in key markets.
Armelle Levieux, member of Air Liquide’s Executive Committee overseeing Hydrogen, emphasized that partnerships among major players across the value chain are essential to building a robust hydrogen ecosystem. Ken Ramirez, Head of Energy & Hydrogen Business at Hyundai Motor Group, noted that the collaboration aims to create a comprehensive hydrogen value chain—from production through utilization—to make hydrogen a viable global energy solution.
Air Liquide and Hyundai already co-invest in advanced hydrogen refuelling networks through Hynet and Kohygen. In South Korea, Air Liquide recently expanded capacity with the inauguration of the Lotte–Air Liquide Ener’Hy 450-bar Filling Centre in Daesan, the nation’s largest facility of its kind.
The renewed alliance will also strengthen the hydrogen supply chain, including low-carbon and renewable hydrogen production, transportation, distribution, and end-use applications. Accelerating innovation in hydrogen technologies remains a central priority.
To support hydrogen mobility, the companies will focus on commercializing fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) across logistics fleets, public transit, and port operations. Hyundai has already deployed more than 2,000 hydrogen buses and 37,000 passenger FCEVs and plans to significantly expand these numbers by the end of 2026.
In related developments, Air Liquide’s Singapore arm recently partnered with Aster Chemicals and Energy to explore low-carbon hydrogen production using autothermal reforming with carbon capture.