Development of Safety Verification Technology and Pilot Approval for EV Conversion by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
On May 11, the Korea Transportation Safety Authority announced that it will carry out a national research and development project to develop safety verification technology for the conversion of internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles, as well as to conduct pilot approvals for such tuning. The project aims to ensure the safety of EV conversion vehicles, which are created by modifying existing diesel or other internal combustion engine vehicles into electric vehicles. The project will continue until 2028.
EV conversion refers to the process of removing the engine, transmission, and fuel tank of an internal combustion vehicle and installing an electric motor and battery to convert it into an electric vehicle. Until now, tuning or maintaining such vehicles has been challenging due to the dangers posed by high-voltage electrical systems in electric vehicles. The Authority explained that, due to a lack of technical connections and information, there have been no cases of tuning internal combustion vehicles into electric vehicles.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport launched this project to expand the tuning industry, which has so far focused on internal combustion engines, into the electric vehicle market. Another goal is to ensure safety. The project began at the Authority's Tuning Safety Technology Institute, which opened in January last year.
Through this project, the Authority plans to develop methods and systems for evaluating the safety of converted vehicles. It will also develop technologies for periodic and tuning inspections of converted electric vehicles, improve conversion procedures, and foster specialized personnel. The Authority expects to secure verification technologies for the safety of electric vehicles both in the conversion process and during operation.
It is also expected that it will become possible to add devices or modify the structure of existing electric vehicles to suit specific purposes. In addition, maintenance technologies for replacing batteries or motors with higher-performance alternatives than those originally installed are expected to improve. The Authority plans to establish an Electric Vehicle Tuning Safety Center in connection with this project. Jung Yongshik, President of the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, said, "The results of this project will serve as a catalyst for expanding the tuning market to electric vehicles."
Korea Transportation Safety Authority Tuning Safety Technology Institute exterior. Provided by the Authority
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