Jeonnam Province Accelerates Carbon Neutrality by Promoting Eco-Friendly Vehicles

Secured 82.7 Billion Won in National Funds to Distribute 8,635 Units... Expansion of Charging Infrastructure Also Planned

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province announced on the 2nd that it has secured 82.7 billion KRW in national funds from the Ministry of Environment for the supply of eco-friendly vehicles in 2022, and will expand carbon neutrality projects in the transportation sector.

In line with the government's plan to supply 1.33 million eco-friendly vehicles by 2025, the province plans to distribute a total of 66,000 vehicles, including 56,000 electric vehicles and 10,000 hydrogen vehicles, to improve air quality by reducing greenhouse gases and fine dust, and to respond to the realization of carbon neutrality by 2050 together with its residents.

The national funds for eco-friendly vehicle supply in 2022 have increased by 28.9 billion KRW compared to this year (based on the main budget of 53.8 billion KRW). With this budget, the province plans to supply a total of 8,635 eco-friendly vehicles, including 7,533 electric vehicles and 1,102 hydrogen vehicles.

For electric passenger cars, support ranges from 12.4 million to 15.4 million KRW per vehicle; for electric cargo vehicles, from 20.4 million to 22.4 million KRW per vehicle; for hydrogen passenger cars, from 34.5 million to 37.5 million KRW per vehicle; and for hydrogen buses, 300 million KRW per vehicle. However, the support amount may vary by city and county.

Jeonnam Province will also support the installation of 100 slow chargers for electric vehicles based on applications from cities and counties to expand eco-friendly vehicle charging infrastructure, and will actively respond to the Ministry of Environment’s 2022 plan to expand electric chargers to further enhance the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Regarding the seven hydrogen charging stations under construction in Mokpo, Yeosu, Goheung, etc. (2 by local governments and 5 by private sector), the province will ensure early completion and encourage participation of local governments and private companies in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Ministry of Environment’s 2022 public projects to reduce inconvenience caused by the shortage of charging stations.

Although Jeonnam Province has made efforts to expand the supply of eco-friendly vehicles, it faced difficulties due to the payment of disaster relief funds by cities and counties amid the spread of COVID-19, difficulties in securing local government funds, and decreased consumer sentiment caused by the regional economic downturn.

Going forward, to realize a carbon-free healthy future and clean Jeonnam, the province plans to annually increase the budget necessary for the supply of electric and hydrogen vehicles and the construction of charging stations, accelerating the supply of eco-friendly vehicles and the expansion of charging infrastructure.