Kia is embarking on a significant collaboration with the electric vehicle charging startup TBU to implement a zero-charging time solution for electric vehicle customers through energy trading from charging and discharging.
On the 21st, at Kia 360 (located in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul), a business agreement was signed for a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) fast charging energy trading solution, with key figures attending, including TBU CEO Baek Sang-jin and Kia’s domestic eBiz solution director Yoon Seung-kyu.
Vehicle-to-vehicle fast charging is a technology that enables the fast charging of electric vehicles, which are currently experiencing a steady increase in sales, by connecting charging ports of different vehicles with cables, facilitating power exchange between them.
TBU is a startup offering the electric vehicle charging platform ‘ElectBari,’ which has received regulatory sandbox validation approval from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, and is preparing to initiate a mobile electric vehicle charging service. It also provides specialized solutions through data analysis, such as AI-driven optimization algorithms for charging demand-supply matching and charging station efficiency prediction services.
Kia is developing a fast charging technology that significantly reduces charging time and vehicle modification costs compared to existing mobile charging services that utilize trucks available in the market.
If commercialized, Kia electric vehicle customers will be able to generate revenue through energy trading from charging and discharging.
Should this energy trading expand into a platform business, individuals can secure profits by reselling the residual power in their vehicles. Charging operators can offer subscription-based services, while taxi and rental car companies can secure additional revenue models by utilizing their idle time. This will notably eliminate significant constraints on electric vehicle use for end consumers, as there will no longer be a need for charging infrastructure installation, mobility for charging, or waiting times.
Kia and TBU plan to continue verifying key elements such as reducing perceived charging time for electric vehicle owners, securing revenue models through electricity resale, and expanding the platform business in line with energy market activation through this business agreement.
A Kia representative stated, “Once energy-related regulations are resolved, the vehicle-to-vehicle fast charging technology has high potential for expansion into platform businesses and is an optimized solution for a country with a high proportion of multi-unit housing,” adding that “we are planning to continue various validation efforts to address the unmet needs of electric vehicle customers in the future.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr