102 Chargers to Be Installed by 2030
Supporting Medium- and Long-Distance Operation of Electric Buses and Trucks
Strengthening Nationwide Expressway EV Charging Infrastructure
Accelerating the Transition to a Carbon-Neutral Transportation System
Korea Expressway Corporation (President Ham Jingyu) announced on July 4 that it had signed a business agreement with Woojin Industrial Systems (CEO Kim Youngchang) on July 2 for the establishment and operation of electric commercial vehicle charging stations to support the operation of eco-friendly commercial vehicles on expressways. The company plans to significantly expand high-power electric charging infrastructure at major expressway service areas nationwide.
Exterior view of Korea Expressway Corporation headquarters in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Byunggun Kwon
Through this agreement, Korea Expressway Corporation and Woojin Industrial Systems will install 102 high-speed chargers with a capacity of 300kW, dedicated to electric buses and trucks, at 14 key service areas nationwide by 2030.
The chargers dedicated to commercial vehicles are high-power facilities with more than three times the output of standard passenger electric vehicle chargers, enabling efficient medium- and long-distance operation of large vehicles.
The electric commercial vehicle charging stations are scheduled to begin full-scale operation in the first half of next year. Currently, pilot operations are underway at four locations, including Chupungnyeong Service Area (Seoul and Busan directions), Eonyang Service Area (Seoul direction), and Tongdosa Service Area (Busan direction) on the Gyeongbu Expressway.
This marks the first dedicated charging infrastructure for electric commercial vehicles on expressways and is expected to play a significant role in overcoming the physical limitations of medium- and long-distance electric commercial vehicle operations.
Korea Expressway Corporation is currently operating 1,604 chargers for passenger electric vehicles at 208 expressway service areas nationwide. With the construction of these new charging stations for electric commercial vehicles, the company is accelerating both the quantitative and qualitative expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
A representative from Korea Expressway Corporation stated, "Until now, electric buses and trucks have mainly operated in urban areas or on short routes due to a lack of charging infrastructure. Going forward, stable long-distance operation on expressways will become possible." The representative also emphasized, "This agreement will serve as a key milestone in the transition to carbon neutrality for the domestic logistics and public transportation systems."
Meanwhile, the government aims to supply 200,000 electric commercial vehicles by 2030 and is continuously working to rapidly expand charging infrastructure and strengthen private sector cooperation to achieve this goal.
This agreement by Korea Expressway Corporation is in line with government policy and is being recognized as a practical foundation for expanding electric vehicle adoption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
They are posing for a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement for the establishment and operation of electric commercial vehicle charging stations.
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