Hyundai Motors (www.hyundai.com) unveiled Elec City (its second attempt at making an electric bus for the streets of South Korea) at the Hyundai Truck & Bus Mega Fair at the end of May.

The automotive manufacturer first revealed an all-electric bus in 2010, but the vehicle was not given the go-ahead for production at the time, due to the high cost of batteries. Seven years later, and with batteries cheaper than ever, Hyundai has decided the time is now right; it says that production and sales of the bus should commence in 2018.

Sitting beneath the conventional-looking exterior of the Elec City is a 256kWh lithium-ion polymer battery which Hyundai says provides a range of up to 180 miles. Power is sent to the wheels through a 240kW electric motor, and a fast-charging feature allows the bus to fully recharge in about 1hr.

In a statement, Hyundai said: “Elec City provides a glimpse into the future of public transportation. The bus demonstrates the suitability of Hyundai Motor’s pioneering fully electric powertrain for commercial application.”