Dongjak District Expands Village Bus Electric Charging Stations, Laying the Groundwork for Electric Bus Introduction

On June 10, Dongjak District in Seoul announced that it had completed the installation of public electric charging stations for village buses at the Dongjak Parking Park parking lot last month and has officially begun operations.

Installation of electric charging stations for village buses at Dongjak Parking Park. Provided by Dongjak District.

The district explained that, due to the expiration of the service life of diesel buses and the discontinuation of their production, the transition to electric buses has become inevitable. In response, the district has proactively expanded the essential charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The district also emphasized that, despite difficulties in installing charging stations due to concerns about explosions and fires, the successful establishment of this charging station was made possible through collaboration with relevant departments, making the achievement particularly meaningful.

The charging station is located opposite the public restroom within the parking park and is equipped with three 100kW rapid chargers, each capable of fully charging a vehicle in approximately one hour and thirty minutes. Previously, village buses operating in the Heukseok and Sadang areas had to travel to other regions to charge their electric vehicles; now, they can charge near their routes. The adoption rate of electric buses in these areas is also expected to gradually increase.

Going forward, the district plans to sequentially replace aging diesel buses with electric buses to promote sustainable carbon neutrality. For the electric charging stations, the district will ensure thorough safety management through regular inspections, liability insurance coverage, and the introduction of a smart control system.

Park Ilha, Mayor of Dongjak District, stated, “The expansion of electric charging stations will not only improve the efficient operation of village buses used by residents, but will also make a substantial contribution to the transition to an eco-friendly transportation system. We will continue to expand eco-friendly infrastructure, starting with areas closely related to residents’ daily lives.”