Seoul City Expands Electric Vehicle Adoption... From Securing Charging Sites to Developing Chargers

Preliminary Survey Launched to Secure Sites for Charging Facility Installation
Fast Charger Usage Limited to 80% to Prevent Monopoly
Collaboration with Private Sector Including Hyundai and Kia to Develop Chargers

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is launching a project to identify sites for public electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities to expand the supply of electric vehicles. This measure addresses the shortage of charging facilities compared to the steady demand for EVs, and plans to expand installations not only on national and public lands but also on city-owned public parking lots.

According to Seoul city on the 30th, the city recently began a preliminary survey to secure sites for public EV charging facilities. This is a measure to establish an effective supply plan by accurately investigating the demand for the insufficient chargers and understanding the status of chargers by administrative district.

As of the end of June, about 56,000 chargers have been installed in Seoul, and there are approximately 76,000 registered electric vehicles. The ratio of electric vehicles per charger (1.4 vehicles per charger) is favorable compared to major countries worldwide. However, considering this year’s EV supply target (11,578 vehicles) and the cumulative target by the end of the year (100,000 vehicles), the shortage of chargers could become a bigger issue in the future.

Seoul’s plan to limit the charging rate of rapid EV chargers to 80% is in the same context. This aims to prevent some selfish drivers from monopolizing rapid chargers for long periods like parking lots and to create an environment where multiple people can conveniently charge. The charging automatically stops when the battery reaches 80%. Seoul has conducted a technical review of its own rapid chargers and started firmware updates with charger manufacturers.

Cooperation with private companies will also be expanded. Seoul has signed business agreements with four private companies with technological capabilities in the EV field?Hyundai Motor Company & Kia, LG Electronics, Doosan Robotics, and LS E-Link?to expand EV charging infrastructure. Based on feedback that long charging wait times, heavy charging cables, and uniform charger types still cause inconvenience, they plan to supply various types of chargers including ▲ultra-fast charging stations ▲robot chargers ▲ceiling-mounted charging gantries.

For example, Hyundai Motor Company & Kia will use their EV charging station brand E-pit to build 4 to 6 units of 350kW ultra-fast chargers. LG Electronics and Doosan Robotics will integrate robots with their self-produced rapid chargers to establish and operate charging systems for transportation-vulnerable groups. LS E-Link will supply smart chargers called 'ceiling-mounted charging gantries' in places with spatial and temporal constraints for charging, such as bus garages.

This year, subsidy support criteria have also been adjusted. The full subsidy support threshold has been lowered from a vehicle price of 57 million KRW to under 55 million KRW, with a maximum support of 8.4 million KRW. Vehicles priced between 55 million KRW and under 85 million KRW will receive 50% of the maximum subsidy. Additionally, for purchases by low-income groups, an extra 20% of the national subsidy will be provided, and for first-time young buyers (aged 19 to 34) within the low-income group, an additional 10% will be added, totaling 30% extra support.

Seoul city plans to actively pursue infrastructure expansion and technology development in line with the expansion of EV supply. The supply target set for this year is about 12,000 vehicles, and if the goal is achieved by the end of the year, the cumulative number of EVs in Seoul is expected to exceed 100,000.