The world’s first On-Line Electric Vehicle – OLEV, made its debut last week at the Seoul Zoo in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Invented by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology – KAIST the OLEV gets its power supply from an electric facility underground via a magnetic field which is transformed into electricity – hence there are no power lines on the surface.
Seoul City made the decision to replace the zoo’s existing shuttle bus, named the ‘elephant train’ last summer because the modified truck, which had been running since 1984, used diesel and was receiving criticism for polluting the air – consequently, the new electric vehicle has been introduced as its successor.
The new electric vehicle will operate over a 2.2-kilometer route using the electricity provided wirelessly and will also use its own batteries whenever necessary.
And, if this transportation method proves successful, Seoul City is planning to expand the use of OLEVs, claimed a city official:
“We are considering the introduction of the electric vehicle to central bus lanes”
According to data, busses are responsible for approximately 30% of the city’s traffic and there are 90.2 kilometres of bus lanes in existence throughout the city. The official continued by saying:
“The OLEVs use batteries with a capacity one-fifth of that of ordinary vehicles and will be able to drive all day without charging if they stay mainly on the central lane… The electricity is supplied in a wireless manner and it is suitable for Seoul, which has many rainy or snowy days”
The municipal government is hoping to replace all of its official and public transport vehicles with environment-friendly models to reduce air pollution.
Source: koreatimes.co.kr
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