Expressway Rest Areas Enable 'Ultra-Fast Charging for Electric Vehicles'... "Significant Expansion This Year"

Installation of 72 Ultra-Fast Chargers at 12 Rest Areas
Optimized for Hyundai E-GMP... 80% Charge in 18 Minutes

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] Ultra-fast charging for electric vehicles will soon be available at 12 highway rest areas including the Gyeongbu Line and Jungbu Line.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Expressway Corporation announced on the 14th that they will install 72 ultra-fast chargers for electric vehicles, six at each of the 12 highway rest areas, and begin operation from the 15th.

The targeted rest areas include Anseong (Seoul and Busan directions) and Chilgok (Busan direction) on the Gyeongbu Line, Eumseong (Tongyeong direction) on the Jungbu Line, Hwaseong (Mokpo direction) on the Seohaean Line, Haman (Busan direction) and Munsan (Suncheon direction) on the Namhae Line, and Hampyeong Nabi (Muan direction) on the Muan-Gwangju Line.

Naerimcheon (Seoul) on the Seoul-Yangyang Line, Gunsan (Seoul) on the Seohaean Line, Chilgok (Busan) on the Gyeongbu Line, Mungyeong (Yangpyeong) on the Jungbu Naeryuk Line, and Hoengseong (Gangneung) on the Yeongdong Line will begin operation from the 16th.

The ultra-fast chargers were established through an agreement between the Expressway Corporation and Hyundai Motor Company. The Expressway Corporation provided the sites, while Hyundai Motor was responsible for facility design, installation, and operation.

They are optimized for Hyundai’s electric vehicle-exclusive platform E-GMP, and E-GMP-based models such as the Ioniq 5 can be charged up to 80% within 18 minutes.

Electric vehicle ultra-fast charger installed at Eumseong Rest Area (Tongyeong direction) (Photo by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

Existing electric vehicles can also be charged using the DC Combo Type 1. However, charging speed may vary depending on the power capacity supported by each vehicle.

The chargers are designed as a canopy structure grouping six chargers in one place, allowing users to charge comfortably even in rain or snow, thereby improving user convenience.

The Ministry of Land plans to significantly expand electric vehicle chargers on highways this year. In cooperation with private and public institutions, more than 400 chargers will be added, aiming to build a cumulative total of over 800 chargers by the end of this year.

Among these, more than 100 will be ultra-fast chargers.

At the opening ceremony of the ultra-fast chargers held at Hwaseong Rest Area, Hwang Sung-kyu, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, said, "Establishing charging infrastructure is essential for the smooth spread of eco-friendly vehicles," and added, "We will rapidly build electric vehicle chargers across nationwide highways."