By Alimat Aliyeva
Five Hyundai Motor electric buses will begin operating in June
on Japan’s Yakushima Island, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site
known for its unique ecosystem, Azernews
reports.
Hyundai signed a supply deal with Iwasaki Group, a Japanese
tourism service company, in July of last year, marking the
company’s entry into Japan’s commercial electric vehicle (EV)
market.
The buses, called Elec City Town, were officially delivered to
Iwasaki Group on Monday in a ceremony held at the Yakushima Iwasaki
Hotel, Hyundai reported. The units were then handed over to
Tanegashima-Yakushima Kotsu, a transportation company under the
Iwasaki Group.
The ceremony was attended by around 80 people, including Hyundai
Motor Vice Chairman Chang Jae-hoon, Hyundai Mobility Japan Head
Toshiyuki Shimegi, Iwasaki Group President and CEO Yoshitaro
Iwasaki, and the town mayor Koji Araki, according to Hyundai.
“Yakushima is the perfect environment where mobility solutions
can truly shine,” said Chang during his congratulatory speech,
emphasizing the shared goal of Hyundai and the Yakushima government
to demonstrate the harmonious coexistence of nature, technology,
and the local community.
The Elec City Town buses will operate on a route connecting
Yakushima Airport, Miyanoura Port, and Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge
starting in June.
These mid-size, low-floor buses are specially designed to handle
the island’s challenging terrain and endure its subtropical climate
and geographical conditions, Hyundai explained.
Hyundai has also signed an agreement with the Yakushima
government on Sunday to use the Elec City Town’s vehicle-to-home
(V2H) function to provide power to evacuation centers and medical
facilities during natural disasters, such as typhoons or heavy
rain. The company expects this V2H capability to serve as a backup
power source during blackouts.
Additionally, Hyundai plans to install charging stations on the
island for use by both residents and tourists, as part of future
agreements.
Kagoshima Prefecture, where Yakushima is located, has set a goal
to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with plans to replace all
vehicles on the island with electric or other zero-emission
vehicles.
“As a leader in electrification, we aim to strengthen our
position in the market while contributing to carbon reduction and
becoming a brand that supports the local community,” said a Hyundai
spokesperson.
The project highlights how electric vehicles are increasingly
being integrated into sustainable tourism efforts, particularly in
environmentally sensitive areas like Yakushima. The introduction of
EV buses can help reduce the carbon footprint of the tourism sector
while maintaining the island’s UNESCO-protected environment.
AloJapan.com