SEOUL, KOREA - The Seoul metropolitan city government said on August 29 that it would run ten electric car taxis on an experimental basis for eight months from the next month to April next year, using the SM3 ZE compact-sized electric car. Seoul city mayor Park Won-soon will, together with Renault Samsung president Francois Provost and the Seoul Taxi Association president Oh Gwang-won, hold a signing ceremony at 10 am on the same day at the new City Hall building.

 

The electric taxis are designed in sky blue color to highlight the eco-friendliness. The fare is identical to that of regular conventional fuel-based taxis at 100 won for every 142 meters plus the minimum charge of 3,000 won. For time-based fare which is applicable when the taxi runs at 15 km per hour or below, it is 100 won for each 35 seconds.

 

The electric taxis will be recharged at 34 charging stations out of 46 located across the city. The fuel cost is 13 percent cheaper than the liquefied petroleum gas taxi, with no greenhouse gas discharged. Currently most of the 72,000 taxis in operation in Seoul are based on LP gas.

 

The city authorities have selected two taxi operators for the pilot project including Munhwa Transport and Goryeo Taxi. The city will support all expenses for the project including car purchase cost, electric charging cost, and charging station building cost. During the eight-month pilot program period, the city government, in partnership with the University of Seoul, will review all factors including energy cost, maintenance cost, revenue, and emissions reduction effect and decide whether to expand the program.