Environmentally-friendly hybrid cars powered by both electricity and gasoline have begun to hit the roads in South Korea.
The Environment Ministry said 50 low-emission electric vehicles will be used for official business at central and provincial government agencies beginning Monday.
The 1.4 liter-engine locally manufactured automobiles have a 50 percent higher fuel efficiency, but produce 30 percent less toxic emissions compared to gasoline cars.
The ministry plans to make it mandatory for government agencies and public corporations in the Seoul metropolitan area to raise the proportion of hybrid cars to at least 20 percent of their official vehicles next year.