Public support for expanding hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks in South Korea is strong enough to outweigh the associated carbon reduction costs, according to a new study by researchers at Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech).
The research assessed 1,000 households’ willingness to pay for policies supporting the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell trucks, which are seen as a lower-emission alternative to diesel vehicles in freight transportation. The findings suggest the policy, which aligns with South Korea’s long-term climate and transport decarbonization goals, would be a socially profitable investment.
Heavy-duty trucks account for a disproportionate share of transportation-related emissions, making them a key target for decarbonization efforts worldwide. In South Korea, the government aims to expand the national fleet to 30,000 hydrogen fuel cell trucks by 2040, replacing conventional diesel vehicles. If achieved, the transition is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the mobility sector by about 8.74 million tons.
To measure public acceptance, the researchers used a contingent valuation method to estimate willingness to pay for the proposed expansion. The study was based on one-on-one interviews conducted with 1,000 households across South Korea in 2024. Respondents were asked how much they would be willing to contribute annually, via income tax, to support the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks.
The study, titled Public acceptance towards expanding hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks in South Korea: A monetary assessment based on willingness to pay, was published in Volume 174 of the journal Transport Policy on December 1, 2025, after being made available online on September 29, 2025.
“This is the first study to quantitatively assess public acceptance of expanding hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty trucks, not passenger cars or buses,” said Prof. Yoo, professor in the Department of Future Energy Convergence, College of Creativity and Convergence Studies, at SeoulTech, highlighting the novelty of the research.
Results show that the average household is willing to pay ₩3,121 (US$2.11) per year between 2024 and 2033. When aggregated nationally and discounted at a social discount rate of 4.5%, this corresponds to a present value of ₩ 572.4bn (US$418.4m). The estimated willingness to pay per ton of carbon dioxide reduced is ₩65,465 (US$47.85), significantly higher than South Korea’s prevailing carbon credit price of ₩9,245 (US$6.76) per ton.
According to the researchers, this gap indicates that public benefits substantially exceed the costs of carbon reduction, despite high upfront investments required for hydrogen vehicles and refueling infrastructure.
The study also identifies practical barriers to wider adoption. Many large-scale hydrogen refueling stations are located at bus depots, limiting accessibility for freight operators. The researchers recommend expanding or relocating stations along major logistics corridors and aligning acquisition tax reductions for hydrogen trucks with those already available for hydrogen buses.
“In the long run, our research contributes to accelerating the decarbonization of the logistics sector,” Prof. Yoo said. “For the public, this means significantly cleaner air and delayed climate change impacts, as heavy-duty trucks are currently major emitters.”
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