A man is using the wireless charging parking facility for electric scooters by LG Electronics and Kickgoing installed around Yeokgok Station in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do. (Photo by LG Electronics)
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] LG Electronics announced on the 17th that it has introduced the first wireless charging solution for electric scooters in South Korea in collaboration with the electric scooter sharing service company 'Kickgoing.'
Recently, the two companies established five wireless charging parking facilities around Yeokgok Station in Bucheon City, Gyeonggi Province, with the cooperation of Bucheon City Hall, based on LG Electronics' independently developed wireless charging technology. There are about 20 wireless charging Kickspots at these locations, and when an electric scooter equipped with a wireless charging receiver pad is parked at a Kickspot, charging starts automatically.
The two companies also plan to encourage voluntary participation from customers by implementing a system that offers discounts on usage fees when electric scooters are returned to Kickspots. They are also considering ways to coexist with the local community, such as introducing discount coupons that can be used at stores near the Kickspots.
LG Electronics and Kickgoing will verify the efficiency, customer convenience, and safety of the wireless charging solution over six months, and based on the data collected, they plan to gradually expand the service to other areas, including Seoul. LG Electronics stated, "We expect this solution to help operate electric scooter sharing services efficiently and increase the usage rate of electric scooters."
LG Electronics is a board member of the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) and leads international standards related to wireless charging technology. Kickgoing launched the first electric scooter sharing service in South Korea in September 2018 and has since secured about 1.2 million subscribers, accumulating operational data. The company operates a service platform independently developed based on IT technology, allowing various functions to be upgraded in real-time.
As personal mobility devices gain attention, LG Electronics and Kickgoing plan to create synergy and achieve sustainable growth. Woo Ramchan, Executive Director of LG Electronics' CSO Business Incubation Center, said, "By leveraging our independently developed wireless charging technology, we will establish an orderly electric scooter usage culture and continuously strive to make personal mobility more convenient and safer for customers."
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