North Korea is using a bus powered by solar panels in the city of Nampho, according to a broadcast from Korean Central Television (KCTV) today, seen by Yonhap News Agency.

The report claims the bus is equipped with 32, 100 watt solar panels, a 95kg electric motor and is capable of travelling at 40 kilometers per hour with up 140 people on board.

The report however did not mention if the bus was fully powered by the solar panels on the roof, or if it has to be plugged into a charging station, with the solar panels topping up the batteries.

“There’s a possibility to run the bus with the batteries, but the specification that 70 to 140 people can get on the bus and the bus can go travel at 40 km/h with them on board has no credibility,” an expert on solar power who wished to remain anonymous told NK News.

The bus is pictured in the report, and the array of solar panels can be clearly seen on the rooftop.

The broadcast also did not mention if the bus was powered exclusively by its electric engine, or if is a hybrid, also running a more traditional diesel or gas engine.

The solar bus in Nampho is not the first of its kind. A 2012 report from NAFTC E News claimed local governments in neighboring China’s north eastern regions were introducing buses with solar panels on the roof which could carry up to 100 passengers. Australia also launched one in 2007, however it does not have panels and is instead charged by solar energy at a terminal.

With no domestic oil and gas industry of its own, North Korea is heavily dependent on its neighbors for fuels. However electric and especially solar vehicles still remain a niche market, even in more developed economies.

Recent analysis by NK News indicates fuel imports from neighboring China remain volatile, and despite probable increasing imports from Russia, it’s likely that supply is still tight.

North Korea’s solar bus represents just one in a series of efforts in what appears to be a focus on renewable energy in the DPRK. Solar panels are increasingly popular on homes and apartments, with the DPRK also adding wind and solar technology to public buildings and industrial facilities.

Additional reporting: Hyunbi Park