Seoul city has deployed its first two electric buses on the roads Thursday, with an aim to replace 29 with electric power in public transportation by the end of this year and 3,000 by 2025.

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co. and Edison Motors Co. will provide 14 and 5 electric buses respectively, and China’s Higer Bus Co. will supply 10. The two buses have been put into operation for the No.1711 line on Thursday, with seven more to be introduced by Nov.20 on the same route. The city will additionally deploy 10 such buses – 5 from Hyundai and 5 from Edison Motors – for the No.3413 line on Nov.25, and 10 buses manufactured by Higer Bus will start running for the No.6514 route in December.

The city plans to put total 3,000 electric buses by 2025, under a more ambitious goal to replace all 7,400 conventional engine-powered buses with green buses.

By Woo Je-yoon and Choi Mira

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