Seoul signs MOU with delivery service providers to adopt eco-friendly scooters

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon s8its on an eco-friendly electric scooter at Seoul City Hall, Wednesday, after signing a memorandum of understanding with six food franchises and delivery service providers to replace gas-powered scooters with electric ones to reduce fine dust. Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

The Seoul Metropolitan Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), Wednesday, with six food franchises and delivery service providers to replace pollution-emitting scooters with electric ones in an effort to cope with fine dust pollution.

The participating franchises are McDonald's, Pizza Hut and Kyochon Chicken and three delivery service providers, Baemin Riders, Vroong and Barogo.

Among some 446,000 scooters and motorcycles registered with the city government, about 100,000 are used for delivery. Under this partnership, Seoul City and the companies plan to replace them with eco-friendly electric ones by 2025.

The companies plan to adopt 1,050 electric scooters this year to replace the old gas-powered vehicles. The city government will provide subsidies which can cover about 30 percent of the purchase costs.

Gas-powered two-wheelers have been commonly used for delivery services due to their convenience, but their engines produce six times more nitrogen oxide emissions than small cars.

The city government will also develop new standard battery models that can be charged more easily, and will improve the charging system by adding more charging stations and adopting a battery sharing system.

“Seoul City will take all possible measures to combat fine dust, through cooperation with private companies as well as participation of citizens,” Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said in a statement.