Differentiated Subsidies by Motorcycle Type: 1.4 to 3 Million KRW
Additional 10% Local Subsidy for Delivery Purchases
The Gwangju city government announced on the 9th that it will provide subsidies for the purchase of electric motorcycles this year, investing 240 million KRW to enhance the reduction of air pollutant emissions.
This year's plan is to support 130 electric motorcycles: 100 in the first half of the year and 30 in the second half. Of the 100 units in the first half, 10 will be prioritized for vulnerable groups, small business owners, and households with multiple children, and 20 will be allocated first to buyers purchasing for delivery purposes.
The subsidy for purchasing electric motorcycles is matched 1:1 between national and local funds, and the amount varies depending on the size, type, and performance of the motorcycle: up to 1.4 million KRW for light, 2.3 million KRW for small, 2.7 million KRW for medium, and 3 million KRW for large electric motorcycles.
Additionally, those who purchase an electric motorcycle after scrapping or discontinuing the use of an existing internal combustion engine motorcycle will receive an extra 300,000 KRW within the maximum subsidy limit. Small business owners, vulnerable groups (people with disabilities, those in lower income brackets), and farmers will receive an additional 20% of the national subsidy amount.
In particular, this year, to alleviate the purchase burden for commercial electric motorcycle users, an additional 10% local subsidy will be provided for purchases intended for delivery use. In other words, in addition to the 10% support from national funds, another 10% will be provided from local funds. However, small business owners, vulnerable groups, and farmers purchasing for delivery purposes cannot receive overlapping additional support.
Eligible applicants are citizens who have been continuously registered as residents in Gwangju for at least 90 days and have obtained a basic or type 2 small motorcycle license, as well as corporations and organizations with business locations in Gwangju. Individuals may apply for one unit, individual business owners for up to five units, and corporations or organizations are not limited in the number of units within the budget if they submit a business plan and a letter of commitment. The application period for the first half is until 6 p.m. on June 30, and for the second half, from July to 6 p.m. on December 3. Applications may close early if the budget is exhausted.
Applicants must sign a purchase contract with the manufacturer or importer and, if the vehicle can be delivered and registered within two months of qualification, the manufacturer or importer will submit the application for purchase support through the Ministry of Environment's Zero Emission Vehicle Subsidy Support System. For purchase consultations and subsidy applications, applicants can visit a nearby electric motorcycle manufacturer or importer dealership. Recipients of the subsidy must comply with an eight-year mandatory operation period. Failure to do so may result in the recovery of the subsidy depending on the period of operation.
Na Byungchun, Director of Climate and Air Policy, said, "We expect significant effects in reducing greenhouse gases and noise through the expansion of electric motorcycles," and added, "We hope for active interest and participation from citizens in purchasing eco-friendly vehicles."
Meanwhile, to address the inconvenience of charging electric motorcycles, the city will also expand KS-standard battery-swapping charging facilities. Seventeen units are scheduled to be installed by October. The charging time, which previously took more than three hours, is expected to be reduced to less than one minute.
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