Low-speed Electric Car in Seoul

Low-speed electric vehicles are running on Seoul roads with a speed of 60 kilometers (37.3 miles) per hour or less from last April.

The electric vehicle weighs 1361kg (including battery). The fuel cost is estimated one tenth (140,000 won per year) of the gas vehicle expenses. Presently Seoul city government operates five ones for the use of ordinary city working and watching illegal parking. And the city plans to increase to a total of 15 ones by the end of this year.

The general people can buy the electric vehilces from next year. One charging battery can run 60-100km. CT&T, electric vehicle firm, has exported e-Zone two-seat car, which is smaller than GM Daewoo’s four-seat Matiz – one of the most popular minicar here.

The company called the electric car more cost-effective than other mincars, singling out the Matiz. To travel 120 kilometers, the e-Zone uses 12 kilowatts of home electricity, which CT&T said would cost 1,120 won, while the Matiz would cosume 8 liters (2.1gallons) of gasoline, which would sell for 13,313 won. The vehicle can be charged at home.

CT&T was founded in 2002 by former Hyndai Motor executives, including CT&T CEO Lee Young-ki. Since then it has been developing electric cars, for example, golf carts. The company said that it will continue to focus on exports.

AD Motors produces a two-seat electric car, the Aurora. That vehilce is capable of 120 kilometers of travel on a full charge, which is obtained from a regular home outlet. AD Motors was also founded by former Hyndai Motor engineers. It has a factory and research center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, capable of producing 500 vehicles a month, with production to ramp up to 2,000 by the end of this year.

Assuming it runs 100 kilometers per day over 20 days a month, it would cost only 10,000 won for electricity. It would take four or five hours to charge the vehicle at home, and the battery is meant to last 10 years. (The end)