Hyundai Delivers Electric Buses to Yakushima

Seoul/Yakushima- Hyundai Motor Company., has taken a significant step toward sustainable transportation in Japan by delivering its ELEC CITY TOWN electric buses to Tanegashima Yakushima Kotsu, a local transportation and tourism operator under the Iwasaki Group in Kagoshima Prefecture. The handover ceremony marks the beginning of zero-emission public transit on Yakushima Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its pristine natural environment.

The ceremony was attended by Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group; Toshiyuki Shimegi, CEO of Hyundai Mobility Japan; Yoshitaro Iwasaki, CEO of Iwasaki Group; and Koji Araki, Mayor of Yakushima. This milestone follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in July 2024 to introduce Hyundai’s electric buses to the island.

Starting June 2025, five medium-sized Hyundai ELEC CITY TOWN electric buses will operate across Yakushima. Designed with a low-floor structure and adapted for the island’s unique terrain, the buses come equipped with a 145 kWh battery and a high-efficiency motor delivering up to 160 kW (217 PS) of power.

The buses feature Vehicle Dynamics Control for safe handling on Yakushima’s challenging mountainous roads, which include steep gradients and sharp turns. Additionally, the advanced battery management and cooling systems are optimized for the island’s hot and humid climate—enhancing charging efficiency, operational range, and overall performance.

A day prior to the handover ceremony, Hyundai signed a strategic partnership agreement to expand electric vehicle usage on Yakushima. This includes leveraging the ELEC CITY TOWN’s Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) capability, enabling the buses to supply electricity to emergency shelters and medical centers during typhoons or heavy rainfall events.

Located at the southwestern tip of the Japanese archipelago, Yakushima is often referred to as the “Alps of the Ocean” for its rich biodiversity and mountainous landscapes. As a top-tier eco-tourism destination and a designated key area in Kagoshima Prefecture’s carbon neutrality strategy, the island is advancing efforts to shift to an all-electric vehicle fleet as part of its 2050 zero-emission goal.

Hyundai expects the deployment of the ELEC CITY TOWN buses to support Yakushima’s carbon-neutral vision, providing a sustainable mobility solution that aligns with the community’s needs. This initiative is part of Hyundai Motor’s broader global mission, Progress for Humanity, reflecting its continued dedication to environmental stewardship and innovative transportation.

Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chair Mr. Jaehoon Chang, said, "I am delighted to see Hyundai's ELEC City electric buses running here on Yakushima, contributing towards a cleaner island environment. Being part of Yakushima's zero-emission island initiative is a significant step towards achieving carbon neutrality on the island by 2050."