"I want to abandon my electric car on the road"... 'Charging refugees' during Seol holiday

Electric Vehicles Near 400,000... Slow Progress in Securing Charging Stations
Only 4 Chargers per Highway Rest Area

Although the domestic electric vehicle (EV) supply is approaching 400,000 units, the shortage of charging stations and slow charging speeds are expected to cause an overflow of 'charging refugees' on highways during this Lunar New Year holiday.

According to the office of Sim Sang-jung, a member of the National Assembly from the Justice Party, as of the 18th, there are 873 chargers installed at highway rest areas nationwide. Considering there are 207 highway rest areas across the country, the average number of chargers per rest area is only four. This is a level that has doubled over the past three years.

Electric vehicles rapidly increasing, but highway charger installation is moving at a turtle's pace

[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

Last year, about 20,000 electric vehicles used the highways, nearly quadrupling during the same period.

Additionally, the number of electric cargo vehicles, which require frequent charging, is expected to increase by 50,000 this year alone, reaching a total of 130,000.

While the number of electric vehicles running on highways is rapidly increasing, the number of chargers is growing at a turtle's pace.

Moreover, even when chargers are installed, many are left broken or under repair and thus unusable. It is common that calls to the phone numbers listed on chargers go unanswered.

Citizens who urgently need to charge their electric vehicles cannot help but feel frustrated. This is why there are remarks like "I just want to abandon my electric car on the highway."

Given this situation, simply driving an electric vehicle on the highway is stressful. When electric vehicles meet on the highway, they even engage in a race to arrive first at rest areas while watching each other closely.

Assembly member Sim Sang-jung said, "There is nothing more dangerous than running out of fuel on the highway," and added, "We must not allow a situation where people race to refuel."

'Safe EV Charging Act' proposed... "To ensure a worry-free holiday trip"

[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

The shortage of electric vehicle chargers on highways and the increasing risk of accidents are pointed out to be due to insufficient institutional conditions.

Sim stated, "The Korea Expressway Corporation, which manages the highways, only leases the land but leaves the installation and operation of chargers to private companies."

He added, "The Expressway Corporation installs and manages gasoline, LPG, and hydrogen charging stations. However, it is unreasonable that in the era of 400,000 electric vehicles, EV charging stations are being neglected."

Accordingly, on the 12th, Sim proposed the so-called 'Safe EV Charging Act,' which amends Article 12 of the Korea Expressway Corporation Act.

The bill clearly stipulates that the installation and management of chargers for electric and eco-friendly vehicles on highways are the responsibilities of the Expressway Corporation, ensuring the corporation fulfills its related duties.

Sim said, "We will expedite the passage of this law so that citizens can purchase electric vehicles without worry and, at the very least, enjoy long-distance travel comfortably starting from the next holiday."