South Korea to Electrify Entire Police Fleet by 2035

South Korea is embarking on a significant environmental initiative, aiming to electrify its public sector transport by mandating that all new police vehicle acquisitions be fully electric or hydrogen-powered from 2035 onward. This ambitious plan, formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed by key government ministries, signals a major shift towards cleaner transportation within the nation's security forces.

The current police fleet comprises approximately 17,600 vehicles, with only about 12.4% being eco-friendly as of June 2026. The plan involves replacing the average of 1,908 new vehicles purchased or leased annually with zero-emission models, with exceptions for specialized vehicles.

The government anticipates that the quiet operation and enhanced performance of these next-generation vehicles will significantly benefit police operations. Furthermore, the integration of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) is expected to elevate the quality of public safety services.

Gangnam district in Seoul has been selected as the pilot area for this transformation. The initiative includes replacing 22 conventional internal combustion engine vehicles at police stations within the district with electric alternatives and installing nine high-speed 200 kW chargers across six stations. This pilot program aims not only to test the infrastructure but also to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles within the police force, with plans already underway to identify further regions for expansion.

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The Gangnam pilot project is not just a test area, but also aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles within the police force.