Hyundai Motor Group announced that it plans to launch hydrogen fuel cell buses and develop electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Oman in collaboration with the Omani government and local firms.
The automotive group established memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Oman's transport ministry and regional companies to collaborate on sustainable mobility initiatives during an event at the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Complex in Salalah, Oman.
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According to the agreements, Hyundai Motor will launch Oman's inaugural hydrogen-powered city buses, and the group will assist in developing ultra-fast EV charging infrastructure in the nation.
Oman's government-operated transport firm Mwasalat intends to establish an environmentally friendly public transit line in Muscat and carry out a trial passenger service with Hyundai Motor's ELEC CITY hydrogen fuel cell buses.
Oman Oil Marketing Co. will manage 240-kilowatt ultra-fast EV chargers provided by Hyundai Kefico at a fuel station in Halban. Following a six-month trial, OOMCO will evaluate the possibility of broadening its EV charging network. Hyundai Motor Group announced its intention to leverage the partnership to grow its eco-friendly mobility operations in Oman, extending beyond public transport into the markets for commercial and passenger vehicles.
The initial foundation of this collaboration is the launch of Oman's inaugural hydrogen city buses. Mwasalat, the transport company owned by Oman, will allocate a public transit route in Muscat as a "Green Route" exclusively for eco-friendly vehicles and will introduce Hyundai’s Elec City Fuel Cell buses for a passenger service pilot.
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Oman lacks a history of deploying hydrogen buses in its public transit system, positioning this pilot initiative as a possible milestone in the decarbonization of Omani public transport. Hyundai Motor Group aims to extend its green mobility solutions beyond public transit and services into the wider Omani mobility sector.
The second fundamental aspect is the advancement of EV charging infrastructure. OOMCO, the energy distribution division of Oman's state-owned OQ energy group, will set up and manage Hyundai Kefico's 240kW ultra-fast EV chargers at a gas station run by OOMCO in the Halban region through its green charging infrastructure subsidiary EVO.
The two parties intend to assess charging efficiency and usage requirements over a six-month timeframe prior to making decisions regarding additional infrastructure development.
This approach is viewed as an attempt to confirm electric vehicle adoption rates and charging needs in Oman using actual data.
Hyundai Motor Group plans to broaden this collaboration from public transit to include the general commercial vehicle and passenger car sectors. This MOU is seen as an indication that Hyundai Motor Group is significantly intensifying its eco-friendly mobility operations in the Middle East. Oman is shifting from an oil- and gas-focused economic model towards industrial diversification and achieving carbon neutrality through Vision 2040. By providing hydrogen buses and EV charging infrastructure concurrently, in line with the Omani government’s policy direction, Hyundai Motor Group has established a presence to penetrate the larger mobility ecosystem beyond just vehicle sales.
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Buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells are seen as especially appropriate for demonstration initiatives in markets where the hydrogen ecosystem is nascent, as setting up charging infrastructure tends to be more straightforward and public transportation provides consistent operating patterns. Hyundai is enhancing its footprint in the hydrogen commercial vehicle market, deploying Elec City Fuel Cell buses not just in South Korea but also in chosen Middle Eastern nations like Saudi Arabia.