Hyundai Motor Company and Kia are creating a user-friendly electric vehicle (EV) charging ecosystem in collaboration with the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI). They are establishing a Global Interoperability Testing Center to evaluate the compatibility and suitability of EV chargers developed by different manufacturers.
On the 16th, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia announced that they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the establishment and operation of the Global Interoperability Testing Center at Namyang Research Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. The signing ceremony was attended by Yang Heewon, Head of R&D Division, Han Donghee, Head of Electrification Testing Center, and Kim Namgyun, President of KERI.
Recently, as various businesses have entered the EV charging market, compatibility issues with EV chargers have emerged. This is due to differences in the interpretation of communication protocols. As a result, some EV drivers have experienced various inconveniences such as inability to charge, charging interruptions, and payment failures.
Through this agreement, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia will establish the Global Interoperability Testing Center at KERI’s Ansan branch to evaluate the compatibility between complete vehicle manufacturers and charging system providers. This is the first time a government-led institution for verifying and evaluating charging compatibility has been established. It will provide an environment that enables a higher level of interoperability verification through direct bilateral testing.
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia will support KERI based on the technology and know-how accumulated through EV manufacturing and the operation of 'E-pit' from the construction of the testing center to its initial operation phase. They will also provide standards for interoperability testing and expert consultation, while concurrently collaborating on technology for new applications such as Plug and Charge (PnC) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) bidirectional charging. Furthermore, they will jointly explore new business opportunities based on charging systems by expanding participation from domestic and international companies in the Global Interoperability Testing Center.
Head Yang said, "As more players enter the EV market, interoperability evaluation is becoming increasingly important. Through the establishment of the Global Interoperability Testing Center, we aim to reduce the technical verification burden for various manufacturers developing charging systems and provide customer-friendly services."
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