Gyeonggi-do Prepares Measures Including Support for Ground Relocation Costs of Electric Vehicle Charging Zones

Gyeonggi Province is implementing fire prevention measures such as supporting the cost of relocating underground parking lot charging zones to the ground level, expanding firefighting facilities, and expert on-site consultations in response to growing public concerns about electric vehicle fires.

According to the current Eco-friendly Vehicle Act, facilities newly constructed after January 28, 2022, must install electric vehicle-only parking spaces and charging facilities accounting for at least 5% of the total parking spaces, and existing facilities must have at least 2%. For apartment complexes with more than 100 households, these standards must be met by January 27, 2025. However, there are no regulations regarding the installation location, and most apartment complexes built around 2010 have underground parking lots.

Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province has decided to review more practical and effective measures to alleviate residents' concerns and strengthen fire safety in electric vehicle charging zones.

First, the province is considering supporting the relocation costs when underground parking lot charging zones in apartment complexes with ground-level parking are moved to the ground. Currently, when installing new electric vehicle-only charging zones, the charging operators bear the costs excluding subsidies from the Ministry of Environment. However, when relocating already installed charging zones, costs may arise, and charging operators state that residents of the apartment complexes must bear these costs entirely. Therefore, if apartment complexes wishing to relocate to the ground feel burdened by the costs and delay the move, residents' anxiety may continue.

Additionally, if relocating electric vehicle charging zones to the ground is impossible, the province plans to consider supporting firefighting facilities such as suffocation fire extinguishers, underfloor water spray devices, and mobile fire water tanks. Most recently built apartment complexes have ground areas converted into parks, making it practically difficult to create new ground-level parking lots for relocating electric vehicle charging zones.

Furthermore, a full inspection will be conducted to check the operation of firefighting facilities such as sprinklers installed in underground parking lots of apartment complexes. According to the current Firefighting Facilities Installation and Management Act, apartment complexes must conduct operational inspections at least once a year. Alongside this, a demonstration project using artificial intelligence (AI) technology will be promoted to enable early fire risk detection and rapid response in case of electric vehicle fires.

In particular, for complexes planning to relocate charging zones or reinforce firefighting facilities, related private experts will visit the site to provide advice on the most suitable measures based on the complex’s conditions and offer counseling to resolve conflicts among residents related to electric vehicles, such as restricting access to underground parking lots.

Park Jong-il, Director of the Apartment Complex Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Due to the nature of apartment complexes where many people live together, fire damage can be very severe," and added, "We will prepare various measures to prevent accidents and spare no support for prevention."

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province will hold a meeting in September to discuss fire safety in electric vehicle charging zones in underground parking lots of apartment complexes. The meeting will include members of the Provincial Council, private experts, and representatives of apartment residents and management entities.