SK Signet Sponsors Global Electric Vehicle Charging Event 'Charin Festival'

Compatibility Testing with Various Electric Vehicle Brands Held at Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute in Ansan from 24th to 27th

SK Signet consultation booth at the 'Charin Festival Asia' held at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by SK Signet

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyoon] SK Group's electric vehicle charger manufacturing and sales affiliate SK Signet announced on the 25th that it will participate as a tester and official sponsor in the 'CharIN Testival & Conference ASIA 2022' hosted by the international electric vehicle charging consortium 'Charging INterface Initiative e.V.·CharIn (hereafter CharIn)'.

The 'CharIN Testival & Conference,' held for three days until the 27th at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, is the first official event held in the Asian region.

CharIn is an international private technical consortium leading the software standardization of electric vehicle charging methods. Over 200 key members, including major global automobile manufacturers and charger-related organizations, participate as core members. Since KERI was designated last year as the world's first official 'Electric Vehicle Global Interoperability Conformity Assessment Body' by CharIn, the event, which had been held only in North America and Europe annually, is now being held for the first time in Asia, in Korea.

SK Signet is participating in this Testival as both a tester and sponsor, conducting cross-verification tests of charging compatibility with various electric vehicle manufacturers. The event began on the 24th with an online conference focusing on sharing research cases and market outlooks, and from that day, for three days, it is operated as a full-scale test involving global automobile brands and charger manufacturers.

SK Signet began its activities as a member of CharIn in 2017. It has consistently participated in establishing international standards for rapid charging technology, starting from the first CharIn Testival held in the Netherlands in 2019.

To expand the adoption of electric vehicles, it is necessary to increase the construction of electric vehicle charging stations and simultaneously improve inconveniences during charging such as malfunctions or errors. By establishing global standards through such software technology exchanges and cooperation led by CharIn, errors in communication and control that may occur during charging can be reduced, significantly alleviating inconveniences during charging. Accordingly, SK Signet has been actively contributing to the establishment of international standards for rapid charging as a member of CharIn.

Kim Heewook, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of SK Signet's Research and Development Headquarters, stated, “We are striving to provide a customer-friendly charging experience without inconvenience regardless of which electric vehicle is used, and we will take the lead in creating global standards for electric vehicle charging through active exchanges with various electric vehicle brands.”