Gyeonggi-do to Provide 7 Million KRW Support for Switching Children's School Buses to LPG

Gyeonggi Province provides a subsidy of up to 7 million KRW when converting children's school transportation vehicles to LPG.

Gyeonggi Province will provide a subsidy of 7 million KRW per vehicle when switching children's school transportation vehicles to LPG vehicles to protect children's health and improve air quality.

Since 2018, the province has supported subsidies for converting diesel-powered children's school transportation vehicles to LPG vehicles, which emit fewer fine dust particles, and by last year, 3,013 vehicles (24 billion KRW) had been converted to LPG vehicles.

This year, the province plans to support 4.5 billion KRW to convert 649 children's school transportation vehicles to LPG vehicles.

Owners of existing diesel school transportation vehicles who scrap their diesel vehicles and purchase new LPG vehicles with 9 to 15 seats will receive 7 million KRW per vehicle. Additionally, if an existing Grade 5 emission diesel vehicle is scrapped early, up to 3 million KRW will be provided according to the low-emission support standards.

However, the province decided to include applicants for subsidies for purchasing new LPG vehicles by December 31 of this year, regardless of whether the existing diesel vehicle is scrapped.

Applications for subsidy support can be made to the environmental department of the city or county where the children's vehicle is registered (or planned to be registered).

Cha Seong-su, Director of the Climate Environment and Energy Bureau of the province, said, "Although the application of restrictions on registering diesel vehicles for children's school transportation will be postponed, considering the limited subsidy budget, we intend to quickly replace existing diesel vehicles with vehicles that emit fewer air pollutants." He added, "We ask for active participation in reducing fine dust around daily life and protecting the health of vulnerable groups such as children."

Meanwhile, considering delays in new car deliveries due to the shortage of automotive semiconductors, the "Special Act on Air Quality Improvement in Air Quality Management Areas," which postpones the ban on new registrations of diesel-powered children's school transportation vehicles scheduled for April this year to January 1, 2024, passed the National Assembly plenary session last month and will be implemented.