Seoul City Distributes 1,052 Electric Two-Wheelers... Additional Subsidies for Delivery Use

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will distribute 1,052 electric two-wheelers this year. Among them, an additional 10% purchase subsidy will be provided for electric two-wheelers used for delivery.

On the 1st, Seoul announced that starting from the 2nd, it will accept applications for purchase subsidies for 1,000 units of the 1,052 electric two-wheelers allocated for private distribution. The private allocation consists of 600 general units, 300 delivery units, and 100 priority units. Electric two-wheelers produce less driving noise compared to internal combustion engine two-wheelers and can reduce 0.98 tons of carbon dioxide annually when driven 30,000 km.

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Starting this year, the city has expanded the distribution of delivery electric two-wheelers compared to the previous year. Additionally, to encourage the replacement of internal combustion engine delivery two-wheelers, which emit large amounts of greenhouse gases and cause noise problems in residential areas, the city decided to provide an additional 10% city subsidy for delivery electric two-wheelers. If a general small model is purchased, the subsidy will increase from a maximum of 2.3 million KRW to 2.53 million KRW.

The criteria for recognizing delivery purchases have also been relaxed. Previously, to purchase a delivery electric two-wheeler, one had to subscribe to paid transportation insurance (maintained for more than 6 months) or non-paid transportation insurance (maintained for more than 3 months) to be recognized. However, starting this year, subscribing to hourly paid transportation insurance maintained for more than 6 months will also be recognized as a delivery purchase. This reduces the annual insurance premium burden by about 1 million KRW compared to paid transportation insurance.

Furthermore, an additional 20% support will be provided on top of the national subsidy for small business owners, vulnerable groups (persons with disabilities, low-income households), and farmers. After the 2024 Seoul electric two-wheeler purchase subsidy announcement, if an internal combustion engine two-wheeler is scrapped or deregistered and then an electric two-wheeler is purchased, an additional maximum national subsidy of 300,000 KRW will be provided.

Applications for subsidies in the first half of the year will begin on the Ministry of Environment's Zero-Emission Vehicle integrated website. Subsidies will be allocated differently depending on scale, type, and performance. Subsidy recipients will be selected in order of delivery and registration, and the subsidy will be paid directly by Seoul to the electric two-wheeler manufacturers or importers. Buyers only need to pay the remaining amount after deducting the subsidy from the purchase price to the manufacturers or importers.

Jung Sam-mo, Director of the Eco-friendly Vehicles Division of Seoul, said, "Seoul will strive to accelerate carbon reduction and create a pleasant urban environment by continuously converting internal combustion engine two-wheelers, which are the main sources of noise and air pollution in residential areas, to electric two-wheelers."

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