Hyundai Supplies Electric Buses to UNESCO World Heritage Yakushima Island in Japan

ElecCity Town Handover Ceremony Held on the 21st

Hyundai Motor Company is contributing to the eco-friendly transition of Yakushima Island in Japan, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its stunning natural scenery.

On the 21st, Hyundai held the ElecCity Town handover ceremony with the Iwasaki Group at the Yakushima Iwasaki Hotel. At the ceremony, Hyundai supplied five ElecCity Town zero-emission electric buses to Tanegashima Yakushima Kotsu Co., Ltd., which is operated by the Iwasaki Group.

Previously, in July of last year, Hyundai had reached an agreement with the Iwasaki Group to supply ElecCity Town buses, signaling its entry into Japan's commercial electrification market following its passenger vehicle business. Approximately 80 people attended the ceremony, including Hyundai Vice Chairman Jang Jaehoon, Toshiyuki Shimegi, head of Hyundai Motor Japan (HMJ), Yoshitaro Iwasaki, CEO of the Iwasaki Group, and Koji Araki, mayor of Yakushima Town.

Vice Chairman Jang stated, "A unique environment like Yakushima is exactly where mobility solutions can demonstrate their true value," adding, "We want to showcase a model where the environment, technology, and local communities coexist to the world." CEO Yoshitaro responded, "We hope to make ElecCity Town the new standard for local transportation, achieving both environmental preservation and revitalization of the local economy."

At the ElecCity Town handover ceremony held on the 21st, representatives from both companies are posing for a commemorative photo. Photo by Hyundai Motor Company

Yakushima is an island located at the southwestern tip of the Japanese archipelago, with an area of 504 square kilometers (about one-fourth the size of Jeju Island), renowned for its breathtaking natural scenery and often called the Alps of the Sea. As a globally recognized eco-friendly tourist destination, it is essential to curb pollutant emissions to preserve its natural environment.

Kagoshima Prefecture, where Yakushima is located, has set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. To transform Yakushima into a "Zero Emission Island," the prefecture plans to convert all vehicles on the island to zero-emission vehicles such as electric cars. Hyundai expects that supplying ElecCity Town buses will support Yakushima's carbon neutrality efforts and further serve as a mobility solution where the environment, technology, and local communities coexist.

Additionally, Hyundai believes that the V2H (Vehicle to Home) function of the ElecCity Town buses?which allows electric vehicles to be used as a power source for homes?will be highly beneficial in resolving blackouts (complete power outages) during emergencies such as natural disasters.

In this regard, on April 20, the day before the handover ceremony, Hyundai signed a "Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement for the Utilization of Electric Vehicles in Yakushima" with the town of Yakushima. This agreement covers the use of the ElecCity Town's V2H function to supply power to evacuation centers and medical facilities during island-specific disasters such as typhoons and heavy rains. Through this cooperation, Hyundai also plans to install additional rapid charging facilities that can be used not only by route buses but also by residents and tourists.

Starting in June, the ElecCity Town buses will operate as Tanegashima Yakushima route buses, connecting Yakushima Airport, Miyanoura Port, Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge, and other key locations.

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