Gyeonggi Province Supports New LPG School Bus Purchases with 7 Million Won Subsidy

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] Gyeonggi Province is providing support for new LPG school bus purchases.

This is a measure in response to the prohibition on new registration of diesel-powered children's school buses starting April next year.

According to the province on the 28th, since 2018 it has been providing subsidies for conversion to LPG vehicles, which emit less fine dust, to protect children's health and reduce fine dust pollution.

Since 2018, 2,276 children's school buses have been converted to LPG vehicles, and for 2023, the province plans to convert 649 children's school buses to LPG vehicles with 4.5 billion won.

New vehicle purchase support begins from the date of municipal and county public announcement.

If existing diesel school bus owners scrap their diesel vehicles and purchase new LPG vehicles of 9 to 15 seats, such as Starex Kinder, 7 million won per vehicle will be provided.

However, if an LPG new vehicle is purchased without scrapping the diesel vehicle, support is available only if purchased by December 31 of that year, so caution is advised.

Separately, if an owner scraps an aged Grade 5 emissions diesel vehicle that they own early, up to 3 million won in duplicate support can be received according to the low-emission measures support standards.

Subsidy support applications are accepted at the environmental departments of municipal and county governments where children's vehicles are registered (scheduled to be registered). Applications are accepted until the budget is exhausted.

Park Dae-geun, head of the Fine Dust Countermeasures Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, "In accordance with the Special Act on Air Environment Improvement in the Air Management Authority, new registration of diesel school buses is prohibited starting next year, so we urge vehicle owners to purchase LPG new vehicles when replacing their vehicles to contribute to children's health and air environment improvement."