The Nation's First 'Double-Decker Electric Bus' Runs on Metropolitan Route... Hyundai Motor Delivers First Vehicle

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] The country's first double-decker electric bus will operate on a metropolitan route.

On the 21st, Hyundai Motor held a handover ceremony for the first double-decker electric bus at the Incheon Seonjin Transportation charging garage, attended by key officials including Choi Giju, Chairman of the Metropolitan Area Transport Committee (hereafter, MTC), Hong Jeonggi, Vice Minister of Environment, Jeong Ilyeong, Member of the National Assembly, Ahn Younggyu, Vice Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, Yoo Wonha, Vice President of Hyundai Motor, and Shin Jaeho, Chairman of Seonjin Group.

Starting with the delivery of the first bus to Incheon Seonjin Transportation, which operates the Incheon~Seoul route, Hyundai plans to sequentially supply 20 double-decker electric buses in the first half and 20 in the second half of this year to metropolitan bus companies in Incheon, Gimpo, Hwaseong, Namyangju, and Yongin.

The double-decker electric bus delivered on this day was first unveiled by Hyundai Motor in 2019 and features a body size of 12,990 mm in length, 3,995 mm in height, and 2,490 mm in width. It can accommodate 70 passengers excluding the driver (11 seats on the first floor, 59 seats on the second floor), offering superior space compared to regular metropolitan buses. Equipped with a 384 kWh high-capacity, high-efficiency water-cooled lithium polymer battery, it can travel approximately 447 km on a single charge according to the Ministry of Environment certification standards.

Hyundai Motor has installed features such as 'Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)', which helps maintain vehicle control by recognizing the driver's intended driving direction; 'Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)', which alerts the driver of potential frontal collision risks and automatically decelerates or stops the vehicle if necessary to prevent or reduce accident damage; and 'Lane Departure Warning (LDW)', which notifies the driver if the vehicle is about to leave its lane.

Starting from the 26th, Incheon City plans to deploy two double-decker electric buses on the existing M6450 metropolitan bus route running from Songdo, Incheon to Samseong Station.

A Hyundai Motor official stated, "We expect that the introduction of this double-decker electric bus will contribute to improving urban air quality and alleviating traffic congestion," adding, "We will continue to make efforts to supply various eco-friendly vehicles, including double-decker electric buses."