Hyundai Motor Group Forms 'E-pit Alliance' with 6 Domestic Charging Operators

Enhancing Consumer Charging Convenience and Business Opportunities Simultaneously through the E-pit Platform

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Je-hoon] Hyundai Motor Group is partnering with domestic electric vehicle (EV) charging operators to form the 'E-pit Alliance,' a coalition network of charging operators. Through this, Hyundai Motor Group plans to create a convenient charging ecosystem and support both quantitative and qualitative growth in the related industry.

On the 18th, Hyundai Motor Group announced that it signed separate Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with six companies?Starcop, Estraffic, Jeju Electric Vehicle Service, Chargebee, Chargein, and Korea Electric Vehicle Charging Service?to establish the E-pit Alliance and to develop and conduct proof of concept (PoC) for interworking the E-pit platform.

Currently, the domestic EV charging industry often faces difficulties in attracting members and operating platforms independently due to each operator’s isolated business structure. From the consumer’s perspective, it is inconvenient to register separately for membership with each operator when using multiple operators’ chargers.

Accordingly, Hyundai Motor Group plans to develop the existing E-pit charging platform, including the mobile application of its ultra-fast charging brand E-pit, to build an integrated charging platform called the 'E-pit Platform,' which alliance members can use together through system interworking. This platform is scheduled to be launched in the first half of next year.

The new E-pit Platform will consist not only of the E-pit app but also a control system for charger operation and a roaming system for charging mediation among members of charging operators. Hyundai Motor Group aims to provide convenient charging services to EV customers and offer alliance members more effective business operation opportunities through the new platform.

With the introduction of the E-pit Platform, EV customers will be able to search for and use chargers from multiple operators simultaneously with just one membership registration via the E-pit app. Operators will be able to secure E-pit members, including Hyundai Motor Group’s EV customers, as if they were their own members through platform interworking. This will facilitate securing additional charging demand, leading to business expansion and increased revenue for charging operators.

Hyundai Motor Group plans to continuously develop the E-pit Platform into a form that broadly supports charging operators’ business operations, including the development of innovative specialized technologies such as 'Plug and Charge,' which enables charging and payment in one step.

Furthermore, starting with this MOU signing, Hyundai Motor Group will keep the door open for other charging operators to join the alliance and will strive to solidify the E-pit Alliance to contribute to the development of the domestic charging ecosystem.

A Hyundai Motor Group official stated, "We expect that the formation of the E-pit Alliance and the operation of the platform will greatly improve the convenience of EV charging in Korea," adding, "We hope that convenient charging services will lead to the expansion of EV adoption and, in turn, create a virtuous cycle of continuous development in the charging ecosystem."