South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor Co. on Thursday delivered its first all-electric bus, dubbed Elec City, to local city bus operators and vowed to expand its eco-friendly commercial vehicle lineup by adding hydrogen powered electric models.

According to Hyundai Motor, it delivered two units of Elec City manufactured from its facility in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, to two local city bus operators Dongnam and Daejin - one for each bus company. The automaker plans to supply nine additional Elec City buses to each bus operator by the end of this year.

It is the first time for a pure electric bus that can drive 300 kilometers or more on a single charge to hit the roads in Korea. Elec City, powered by a 256 kilowatt-per hour (kWh) high-capacity lithium-ion polymer battery, can travel up to 319 kilometers on a full single charge that takes 72 minutes and also up to 170 kilometers on a shorter 30 minute charge.

Hyundai Motor had spent eight years to develop the Elec City and unveiled it for the first time in May at a major auto event.

Yoo Jae-young, head of commercial vehicle business at Hyundai Motor, said the company is putting out efforts to commercialize not only electric buses but also hydrogen powered electric ones to help expand its green commercial vehicle lineup. The automaker plans to test-operate a hydrogen powered electric bus next year.

By Lee Seung-hoon and Lee Eun-joo

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