Expansion of Hydrogen and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Greenbelt Areas

Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station at a Public Parking Lot near Yulhyeon Park, Gangnam-gu, Seoul [Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] The installation of hydrogen and electric vehicle charging stations will be expanded in greenbelt areas.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 4th that a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on the Designation and Management of Development-Restricted Areas, allowing the installation of hydrogen and electric vehicle charging stations at taxi, chartered bus, and freight truck garages within the greenbelt, has passed the Cabinet meeting.

To promote the spread of eco-friendly vehicles, the Ministry allowed the installation of hydrogen charging stations within the greenbelt in October 2014. In February 2018, it permitted automobile electric supply facilities, followed by allowing ancillary facilities at gas stations and LPG charging stations in February last year, and continuous deregulation including overlapping permissions for hydrogen and electric vehicle charging stations in January this year.

The amendment to the enforcement decree was prepared by relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to resolve on-site difficulties, and was discussed at the Regulatory Innovation Meeting of the Office for Government Policy Coordination in October last year.

Accordingly, hydrogen and electric vehicle charging stations can now be installed at taxi, chartered bus, and freight truck garages within the greenbelt. Additionally, hydrogen charging stations installed as ancillary facilities within gas stations and LPG charging stations can be installed by persons other than the owners.

Shin Bomi, head of the Green City Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "With this amendment to the enforcement decree, the expansion project of charging infrastructure for electric and hydrogen vehicles, which represent carbon neutrality, will become more active, and it is expected to contribute to resolving inconveniences for citizens and businesses. We will continue to manage the greenbelt according to its designated purpose while improving the location system."