'Korea's First' Medium-Sized Electric Bus County Electric Launched... Maximum Driving Range 250 km

Combining Economic Efficiency, Eco-Friendliness, Safety, and Convenience... 7,710mm Overall Length Ultra-Long Wheelbase Model

County Electric (Photo by Hyundai Motor Company)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Hyundai Motor Company launched Korea's first domestically produced mid-size electric bus, the 'County Electric,' on the 29th. The County Electric is an electric model equipped with a high-efficiency, high-output battery and electric motor, designed for 15 to 33-seat mid-size buses mainly used as village buses or children's school buses.

The County Electric was released as an extra-long model with a total length of 7,710 mm by extending the 'rear overhang'?the distance from the rear wheel center to the end of the vehicle body?by 600 mm compared to the existing diesel model. It is available in two versions depending on the use: one for village buses and one for children's buses.

In line with the increased vehicle length, an additional lithium-ion polymer high-voltage battery was installed under the vehicle. With a total battery capacity of 128 kWh, it secures a maximum driving range of 250 km on a single full charge. Hyundai explained that the cost of fast electric charging is about 28,000 KRW, which is approximately one-quarter of the cost of fully refueling the diesel model.

The standard charging method is the domestic electric passenger car standard 'DC Combo Type 1' with a 150 kW rapid charging capacity, taking about 72 minutes for a full charge. The use of a household 220V power outlet or a slow charger is available as an option for the children's bus, taking about 17 hours for a full charge. Another notable feature is the 150 kW high-output motor, which improves overtaking acceleration performance by more than 30% compared to the diesel model in the speed range of 50 to 80 km/h, the most frequently used speed range in urban driving.

County Electric Village Bus (Photo by Hyundai Motor Company)

Hyundai applied various safety features to the County Electric. Regarding battery safety, it includes ▲a battery monitoring system that can automatically cut off current if an abnormality is detected ▲an overcharge prevention device that checks battery voltage during charging and cuts off power if abnormal voltage is detected ▲a safety plug that cuts off the electric system power during maintenance.

Additionally, as the battery installation increased the vehicle's weight, the braking system was significantly improved to enhance driving safety. Furthermore, a chassis posture control device that individually controls the four wheels during sudden braking and sharp turns was applied as standard to stably control vehicle movement. Features such as rollover prevention, hill-start assist, and wheel spin prevention were also added.

The middle door, used by passengers when boarding and alighting, is equipped with an ultrasonic sensor and a door pinch prevention touch sensor to prevent the door from closing while passengers are getting on or off. If a body part is caught in the door, an alarm sounds and the door automatically opens, enhancing safety. Notably, the middle door ultrasonic sensor is linked with the accelerator pedal so that if passenger movement is detected near the door, the vehicle will not start even if the accelerator pedal is pressed.

The children's bus is equipped with a twin swing-type rear emergency door for escape in emergencies, and it meets strengthened regulations through seat arrangement changes and the introduction of a seatbelt system that reduces abdominal pressure.

A Hyundai Motor official stated, "The County Electric is Korea's first domestically produced mid-size electric bus, a zero-emission bus that greatly enhances not only high efficiency and economy but also the convenience of drivers and passengers," adding, "It will secure high competitiveness in the growing commercial electric vehicle market."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.