The Korea LPG Association announced that it held a “Eco-Friendly LPG 1-Ton Truck Delivery Ceremony” on the 21st in front of the Han River Flood Control Center in Seocho District, Seoul, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment to improve air quality in urban areas and support struggling small businesses.
This delivery ceremony was organized to donate 12 newly launched LPG 1-ton trucks to small business owners in the fields of delivery, self-employment, agriculture, and to national merit certificate holders.
Notable attendees included Son Ok-joo, Director of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Environment; Oh Se-hee, President of the Small Business Association; and Yang Hee-myung, President of the National Small Freight Transport Business Association. These organizations plan to prioritize vulnerable groups, such as basic livelihood recipients, and select donation recipients in phases based on recommendations from their respective organizations.
With the revision of the air management area law set to take effect next year, resulting in the discontinuation of diesel 1-ton trucks, they have agreed to cooperate to ensure the smooth transition of the small truck market to eco-friendly vehicles.
During the event, a 60-year-old small business owner operating a personal delivery business in Seongdong District, Seoul, was selected as the first recipient of an LPG truck and received the vehicle. The funds for the donation project were sourced from the LPG Hope Recharge Fund, created through contributions from LPG specialty companies E1 and SK Gas.
Shin Deok-hyun, a delivery business owner who received the LPG 1-ton truck, stated, “I have suffered from the stink of exhaust fumes while using my 12-year-old old diesel truck for cargo delivery, but the newly released LPG truck has less vibration and noise, making it comfortable to drive and the exhaust emissions are clean, which I really appreciate.”
The new LPG 1-ton truck has significantly reduced various pollutants such as fine dust and nitrogen oxides, achieving an eco-friendliness equivalent to hybrid vehicles despite being a freight truck. It has obtained a three-category low-emission vehicle certification and meets the stringent emission regulations of SULEV30 (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) in North America. Another advantage is that it does not require urea solution. If 100,000 LPG trucks are sold, it is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 16,000 tons and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 1.06 million tons annually when driven for 10,000 km each year.
Son Ok-joo, Director of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Environment, stated, “The newly launched LPG 1-ton truck will greatly contribute to the successful implementation of the air management area law and the greening of the small truck market where about 150,000 units are sold annually.”
Lee Ho-jung, President of the Korea LPG Association, said, “As the first SULEV30 vehicle among LPG trucks, I hope that the new LPG truck, which combines both environmental and operational performance, will become a reliable partner for small business owners.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr