15 Hyundai Elec City electric buses headed to Morocco under KOICA transport project

Hyundai Motor will supply 15 Elec City electric buses to Marrakesh, Morocco, as part of an official development assistance project carried out with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The vehicles were handed over during a ceremony at Hyundai Motor’s Jeonju plant in Wanju County, South Korea, according to Seoul Economic Daily.

The project covers the supply of the electric buses together with fast chargers and related equipment, as well as local training and technical cooperation for vehicle operation and maintenance.

15 Hyundai Elec City electric buses for Marrakesh

The 15 Elec City units will operate on city bus routes serving Marrakesh’s main tourist districts. According to Seoul Economic Daily, these will be the first domestically produced South Korean electric buses supplied to Morocco.

The handover ceremony was attended by Lee Seung-min, vice president of Hyundai Motor’s commercial vehicle product division; Do Young-a, director of KOICA’s Regional Programs Department II; and Chafik Rachadi, Morocco’s ambassador to South Korea.

The deployment is part of an official development assistance (ODA) programme pursued by KOICA with Marrakesh for the development of an environmentally friendly transport system.

KOICA will provide the 15 electric buses together with fast chargers and associated equipment. The programme also includes local training and technical cooperation aimed at developing capabilities for operating and maintaining the vehicles.

Morocco is targeting a reduction of up to 45.5% from its business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions projection by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050, Seoul Economic Daily reports.

KOICA project includes charging equipment and technical training

Hyundai Motor said it plans to use the partnership to explore opportunities for environmentally friendly commercial mobility suited to operating conditions and demand across different markets.

The Marrakesh project combines electric bus procurement, fast-charging equipment and operational support within the KOICA development programme.

Marrakesh hosted the 22nd United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP22, and is one of Morocco’s main economic and cultural centres, Moroccan ambassador Chafik Rachadi said.

In brief

• How many Hyundai electric buses will be supplied to Morocco?
  KOICA will supply 15 Hyundai Elec City electric buses for operation in Marrakesh.
• What equipment is included in the project?
  The programme includes fast chargers and related equipment, alongside local training and technical cooperation.
• Where will the buses operate?
  The electric buses will operate on city routes serving Marrakesh’s main tourist districts.
• Is this the first supply of South Korean electric buses to Morocco?
  Seoul Economic Daily reports that they are the first domestically produced South Korean electric buses to be supplied to Morocco.

“This project will be a meaningful case that broadens the potential for electrifying public transport using electric buses,” said Park Chul-yeon, head of Hyundai Motor’s Global Commercial Vehicle & LCV Division. “We will provide eco-friendly commercial mobility suited to operating conditions in various regions and work with partner institutions to help build a sustainable transport environment.”