LG Electronics is stepping up efforts to expand domestic electric vehicle charging solutions in partnership with Seoul.
On the 30th, LG Electronics signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Seoul at Seoul City Hall, attended by the Director of the Climate and Environment Headquarters of the City of Seoul and the head of the BS Research Institute at LG Electronics.
This MOU aims not only for quantitative expansion of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the country but also focuses on providing high-quality services to the public by supplying customized charging solutions optimized for various demands, such as rapid charging and assistance for transportation vulnerable groups.
To achieve this, LG Electronics will supply rapid (200/100kW) and slow (7kW) chargers as well as robotic charging solutions to charging service operators (CPOs) like NexThing. The City of Seoul will identify spaces that require electric vehicle chargers and provide the necessary administrative support.
LG Electronics plans to install more than 50 rapid chargers by 2026 through replacing and additionally supplying electric vehicle chargers in buildings, parks, and parking lots operated by the City of Seoul. Additionally, over 10 robotic charging solutions developed in collaboration with Doosan Robotics will be installed primarily at welfare centers to enhance charging convenience for the transportation-vulnerable population.
The robotic charging solution integrates LG’s rapid chargers (200/100kW) with charging robots from Doosan Robotics. When a driver parks the electric vehicle in a charging zone and opens the charging port, the charging robot autonomously connects the charging cable. This enables customers with mobility difficulties to charge without having to connect the cable themselves.
LG Electronics will provide real-time information on charger status through its cloud-based monitoring platform ‘e-Centric’. Since the end of last year, the company has extended its electric vehicle charging service hours from weekdays only to evenings and weekends to quickly resolve any inquiries or issues that customers experience anytime and anywhere.
LG Electronics continues to expand its electric vehicle charging solution business through various partnerships both domestically and internationally.
Earlier in June, LG Electronics signed a memorandum of understanding with ChargePoint, the number one charging service provider in North America, to expand electric vehicle charging business. ChargePoint operates electric vehicle charging stations across the United States and Canada and is also involved in the electric vehicle charging business in 16 European countries and India.
According to German consulting firm Roland Berger, the global electric vehicle charging market is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 32.3%, reaching approximately $186 billion by 2030. In response to global market growth, efforts are also being made in Korea. Last year, the Ministry of Environment announced plans to increase the number of electric vehicle chargers to over 1.2 million by 2030, which is about six times more than in 2022 as part of a plan for expanded infrastructure and enhanced safety.
Seo Heung-kyu, head of LG Electronics’ EV charging business, stated, “Based on an optimal charging solution that combines differentiated quality chargers with monitoring platforms, we will strengthen our position as a trusted charging solution provider by targeting various electric vehicle charging infrastructure demands.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr