Hyundai Motor and Kia are taking steps to establish charging infrastructure in large residential complexes such as apartments to promote both quantitative and qualitative growth in the domestic electric vehicle (EV) charging ecosystem.
On March 3rd, Hyundai Motor, Kia, Hyundai Engineering, and Woowon Management signed a tripartite MOU at Hyundai Engineering’s headquarters in Kaedong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, aimed at expanding EV charging infrastructure in apartments. Key figures at the signing ceremony included Jeong Gyu-won, Head of EV Infrastructure Strategy at Hyundai Motor, Choi Jae-hong, Head of Asset Development Sales at Hyundai Engineering, and Kim Young-bok, President of Woowon Management.
Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to implement the electric vehicle charging service platform, used in their ultra-fast charging infrastructure E-pit, in the charging stations being established in apartments through this tripartite cooperation. As a result, existing E-pit members will be able to charge their vehicles in apartments without registering again.
Hyundai Engineering aims to leverage its accumulated construction and building asset management expertise to provide high-quality and reliable services for apartment charging stations. Having started its EV charging business in the second half of 2022, Hyundai Engineering is set to launch its brand in March and expand operations thereafter.
Woowon Management, the leading player in the joint residential management industry, will utilize its existing apartment management network to assess EV charging demand and consider factors such as power intake capacity to ensure a trustworthy and convenient EV charging infrastructure for residents. This will enable a proactive response to the green demands of apartment residents.
Since launching its ultra-fast charging service E-pit in 2021, Hyundai Motor and Kia have been operating 120 chargers across 21 locations. They aim to establish an additional 20 locations in the first half of this year, with plans to operate a total of about 300 chargers at 58 locations by the end of 2023.
Hyundai Motor and Kia stated that they will expand partnerships using the EV charging service platform starting with the current MOU. They also plan to consistently work towards expanding charging infrastructure in apartments and activating the EV charging ecosystem.
A representative from Hyundai Motor and Kia commented, “With this MOU, we are now able to apply the E-pit platform in the apartment charging sector. We expect a significant enhancement in the convenience of charging electric vehicles in apartments, considering the characteristics of the domestic residential environment.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr