'Bus Wait Time Reduced from 80 Minutes to 15 Minutes' DRT-Dedicated Electric Minivan CV1 Shuttle Introduced for the First Time in Seosan-si

[Financial News]"In the past, I had to wait anywhere from 40 to as long as 80 minutes to catch a bus. Since using the Happy Bus, I can board in just 15 minutes during off-peak hours, which is incredibly convenient." (Seosan-si resident)A new public transportation model that deploys vehicles developed for specific purposes in response to user requests is spreading under the initiative of local governments.
This combines Demand Responsive Transit (DRT) with purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) optimized for rural roads, offering enhanced mobility and eco-friendliness. As a result, citizens are experiencing significantly improved transportation convenience.
According to industry sources on the 2nd, Seosan-si has become the first in the country to introduce the CV1 Shuttle, an eco-friendly electric minivan dedicated to DRT.
Based on Hyundai Motor's electrification platform, the DRT-specialized PBV 'CV1 Shuttle' was developed and mass-produced by MTR and will be further deployed as the 'Happy Bus' in Seosan-si.
At the 'Happy Bus Eco-Friendly Minivan CV1 Introduction Ceremony' held at Seosan City Hall, attendees included Lee Wan-seop, Mayor of Seosan-si, Oh Gi-yong, Head of Domestic SV Business at Hyundai Motor, and Cheon Sung-jae, CEO of MTR.
Unlike conventional public transportation that operates on fixed routes, Demand Responsive Transit (DRT) is a mobility service that generates real-time routes based on passenger requests. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), it predicts demand, allocates vehicles, and determines optimal routes.
After launching the 'Happy Bus' in February using Hyundai Motor's AI-based DRT platform 'Shucle,' Seosan-si decided to add four new CV1 Shuttles to the existing fleet of eight Hyundai County Electric vehicles in response to growing user demand.
An analysis of Happy Bus call data in Seosan-si revealed that 67.6% of requests came from mobility-challenged groups, including teenagers and seniors aged 60 and above.
The CV1 Shuttle is a DRT-specialized PBV developed and mass-produced by MTR, based on Hyundai Motor's ST1 Chassis-Cab.
During the development of the CV1 Shuttle, Hyundai Motor provided comprehensive and systematic support to MTR, including design reviews, guidance on certification procedures, and technical advice on issues that arose during development.
The CV1 Shuttle seats 11 passengers and features a low-floor body and automatic sliding step, making it easy for the elderly and those with mobility challenges to board and alight. It is also equipped with an AI assistant to enhance boarding and alighting safety.
The ST1 Chassis-Cab, which serves as the base for the CV1, consists of a chassis and passenger compartment, making it easy to customize for various purposes. MTR plans to develop a range of specialized vehicles based on the CV1, including school buses, vehicles for people with disabilities, ambulances, and police vehicles.
With the support provided for the CV1's development, Hyundai Motor aims to strengthen cooperation with small specialty vehicle manufacturers so they can utilize the ST1 Chassis-Cab for various vehicle types, thereby expanding ST1 sales.
hjkim01@fnnews.com Kim Hak-jae Reporter