South Korea, Seoul
The Seoul
Metropolitan Government has announced that from 2010, the only buses
permitted on the city’s streets will be powered by natural gas. The
measures have been taken in an effort to combat pollution.
The city already has a large compressed natural gas (CNG) bus fleet
of just less than 3,000, or almost half of the 7,800 buses in the city.
The remainder is currently fueled by diesel. Most of the new buses are
likely to be CNG powered, though some liquefied natural gas (LNG) buses
are expected to be introduced in 2008/9.
Korea Times reports that the city government will fund the program to
the tune of 96.8 billion won (US$101 million) with bus operators
receiving subsidies of up to 22.7 million won (US$23,700) for each bus
purchased. This amount covers most of the differential cost of
purchase, with CNG buses costing around 94 million won per unit
(US$98,000) vs diesel bus cost of 67.7 million won (US$70,700). The
bulk of the buses are expected to be provided by South Korean
manufacturers, Daewoo and Hyundai.
The city government will require operators to replace the remaining
diesel buses with new CNG models by 2010. Under Korean
transportation law, bus operators are prevented from using a
vehicle for more than nine years.
Diesel buses and trucks are currently a major source of pollution in
Seoul, accounting for only 4% of the vehicle fleet but contributing
almost half of the city’s vehicle pollution.
Despite relying entirely on imported natural gas, in the form of LNG,
Sth Korea has a significant natural gas vehicle program, with almost
10,000 CNG vehicles and 170 refueling stations.
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