Environment ministry targets all-new police vehicles as electric by 2035

The environment ministry said Thursday it has set a goal to ensure all newly purchased or leased police vehicles are electric or hydrogen-powered by 2035. The announcement came during a ceremony at the Gangnam Police Station where the ministry signed a business agreement with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Police Agency to accelerate the transition.

As of the end of June 2026, only 2,185 of the approximately 17,600 police vehicles nationwide were electric or hydrogen models, representing an electrification rate of 12.4 percent. The police agency purchases or leases an average of 1,908 new vehicles annually, and the new pact aims to replace nearly all of these with eco-friendly alternatives over the next decade, excluding some special-purpose units.

To demonstrate the feasibility of the shift, officials designated the Gangnam Police Station as the first eco-friendly security office. The initiative involves replacing 22 internal combustion engine vehicles operated by local precincts under the station's jurisdiction with electric models. Additionally, nine 200-kilowatt rapid chargers will be installed across six precincts in the area.

Officials expect the switch to enhance on-site response capabilities due to the superior acceleration and quiet operation of electric vehicles. In the medium to long term, the agencies plan to introduce patrol cars equipped with customized driving and safety features.

The environment ministry plans to expand this pilot project to other police stations across the country while continuing to identify large-scale conversion demand in both public institutions and the private sector. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety pledged to manage and monitor conversion plans systematically.

"The transition of police vehicles to electric and hydrogen models signifies that our police force is taking the lead in achieving the national task of carbon neutrality," Kim Seong-hwan, the minister of climate, energy and environment, said. He added that his ministry would spare no administrative or financial support to ensure the public sector's transition promotes the electrification of all domestic transportation.

Yoon Ho-joong, the minister of the interior and safety, described responding to the climate crisis as an urgent task requiring the entire public sector to lead by example. Yoo Jae-seong, the acting chief of the National Police Agency, noted that the designation of the eco-friendly station would serve as a model case for citizens to experience national environmental policies firsthand.