Yakushima: Hyundai Motor Co. has announced the successful delivery of its first electric buses to Japan, marking a significant milestone in the South Korean automaker's expansion into environmentally sustainable transportation solutions in neighboring regions. The company delivered five Elec City Town buses to the transportation unit of Iwasaki Group, with the vehicles now in operation under Tanegashima-Yakushima Kotsu Co.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the delivery ceremony, held in Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture, was attended by notable figures including Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Chang Jae-hoon, Toshiyuki Shimegi of Hyundai Mobility Japan Co., and Iwasaki Group President and CEO Yoshitaro Iwasaki. The event highlighted the strategic importance of introducing electric mobility in ecologically sensitive areas.
Chang emphasized the unique opportunity Yakushima presents for integrating sustainable mobility solutions, stating, "Yakushima is the kind of special environment where the value of mobility solutions truly shines." He further expressed hopes for creating a model of coexistence between the environment, technology, and the local community.
Iwasaki shared aspirations for the Elec City Town buses to set a new benchmark in the region's transport system, aiming to balance environmental conservation with local economic revitalization. The collaboration follows a letter of intent signed in July last year for the supply of the medium-sized, low-floor electric buses.
The Elec City Town buses, powered by a 145 kilowatt-hour battery and a high-efficiency motor, are designed to operate effectively in Yakushima, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site renowned for its ancient cedar forests and diverse ecosystems. Kagoshima Prefecture, where Yakushima is located, aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with plans to transition to zero-emission vehicles.
In a bid to further promote electric vehicle use, Hyundai Motor signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement with the local government. The agreement focuses on utilizing the vehicle-to-home function of the Elec City Town buses, providing power to evacuation centers and medical facilities during emergencies, thereby enhancing the island's disaster readiness.