Hyundai debuts in Japan delivering a batch of 9-meter BEV buses

Hyundai Motor Company delivered last week e-buses in Japan for the first time. A batch of 5 Hyundai Elec City Town electric buses were indeed supplied to Tanegashima Yakushima Kotsu, a regional transportation and tourism service provider operated by the Iwasaki Group in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. They’ll be in operation on UNESCO site Yakushima island starting in June 2025.

Although these are BEV buses, the Korean brand is quite active in the hydrogen field. A dedicated model for the European market will be trialled in Vienna for three years and was showcased at Mobility Move event in early April in Berlin. On the other hand, Hyundai Motor hydrogen’s division HTWO is partner of Iveco Bus and provider of the fuel cell module for the E-Way H2 model.

Hyundai buses on the Japanese market

The debut of Hyundai in the Japanese market was announced in July 2024. According to the information shared at that time, the 9-meter long Hyundai Elec City Town battery-electric bus is able to accomodate up to 54 passengers (18 of those seated) and powered by a ZF central motor.

The medium-sized, low-floor electric buses will be tailored to local conditions, Hyundai states. They are equipped with a 145 kWh battery and a high-efficiency motor delivering a power output of up to 160 kW/217 PS.

Hyundai stresses that “The buses are equipped with Vehicle Dynamics Control to ensure safe and stable driving on the island’s mountainous roads, characterized by steep slopes and sharp curves. The buses also feature advanced battery management and cooling systems, optimized for Yakushima’s hot and humid climate, enhancing charging performance, efficiency and driving range”.

What is interesting, the agreement includes utilizing the Elec City Town’s Vehicle-to-Home capabilities to supply power to evacuation shelters and medical facilities during natural disasters such as typhoons or periods of heavy rainfall.

The handover event 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.

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