subject: Tourism In South Korea On The Road To New Technology [print this page] Despite the increased tensions with North Korea, South is on the road to success, development and improving tourism in the country. In recent years, the country has seen a tourist boom, triggered by its scenic locations, clean atmosphere, great food and Islands that are a heaven in themselves. However the recent move by South Korea is actually a record, as the country has launched its first ever electric bus service. These buses are not only a great way to save fuel and low cost travel but also, they score a ten on the graph of eco-friendliness.
Last week, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has officially announced that it has started commercial operation of eco-friendly full-size electric buses on the Mt. Namsan circular routes in Seoul.
This bus is a unique combination of technology and design. Instead of Iron plates, the body of the bus is made of a carbon composite material, as its light and considerably reduces the vehicles weight while reinforcing durability. The electric buses are fully equipped with all facilities as in regular commercial buses such as automatic slant boards for wheelchair users. The bus is designed in a peanut-shape and decorated with colorful symbols of the Namsan Tower and landscapes of Mt. Namsan. The electric coaches serving on the Mt. Namsan circular routes are 11.05 meters long and run up to 83km with a single charge. They can be fully charged in less than 30 minutes with a high-speed battery charger. The electric bus, with its maximum speed of 100 km/hr, has a low floor and a 322-horsepower engine. It adopts a high-capacity lithium-ion battery and an energy saving system that can collect and reuse energy generated from brakes when running downhill. It is the first time in the world that electronic buses have been put into commercial operations.
The Electric bus services have opened a new door in the international car market. It is the steady growth of South Korea that tourists are flocking to the country and every now and than, airlines are launching new routes and flights to Seoul, South Korea.
