"Electric Vehicle Charging at Urban Gas Stations"... Ministry of Environment to Sign MOU with Industry

Signed Business Agreement with 6 Oil and Gas Supply Companies on the 18th
Accelerating Infrastructure Development to Achieve Future Vehicle Distribution
Enhancing Accessibility for 'Always-On Charging'... Resolving User Inconvenience

Reference photo

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Electric vehicle charging facilities will soon be installed at urban gas stations. The government and the private sector have joined hands to accelerate the establishment of future vehicle infrastructure.

The Ministry of Environment and the Korea Environment Corporation will sign a business agreement on the 18th at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, with six petroleum and gas suppliers to expand charging facilities for future vehicles (electric and hydrogen vehicles). This collaboration aims to achieve the future vehicle distribution goals, a key task of the Green New Deal, by combining the efforts of the government and industry in infrastructure development.

Last month, the government announced the 'Future Vehicle Expansion Strategy,' pledging to build a cumulative total of 500,000 slow electric vehicle chargers and 15,000 fast chargers by 2025. Hydrogen charging stations will be established and operated nationwide, focusing on the metropolitan area, with a cumulative total of 450 stations by 2025.

In particular, through this agreement, the plan is to create an environment where charging is possible anytime, like using a mobile phone, at locations centered on daily life and transportation hubs such as gas stations.

The six petroleum and gas suppliers participating in the agreement are SK Energy, GS Caltex, Hyundai Oilbank, S-Oil, SK Gas, and E1.

Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae plans to emphasize the necessity of future vehicle charging facilities and the importance of the roles of the six petroleum and gas suppliers at the signing ceremony.

The six petroleum and gas suppliers will introduce their business plans for future vehicle charging facilities, and the Environment Corporation will explain the Ministry of Environment’s financial support and construction plans for charging projects.

Reference photo [Image source=Yonhap News]

The government and industry will establish future vehicle infrastructure by installing fast electric vehicle chargers at urban gas stations.

First, the Ministry of Environment will provide financial support necessary for building electric vehicle chargers and hydrogen charging stations, and the Environment Corporation will install electric vehicle chargers.

SK Energy will establish a business system that provides integrated vehicle management services, including charging, car washing, and maintenance, along with installing fast electric vehicle chargers.

GS Caltex will install more than 40 fast electric vehicle chargers annually at gas stations in downtown Seoul and continuously develop projects to improve the electric vehicle user environment. Hyundai Oilbank plans to install over 200 fast electric vehicle chargers with a capacity of 100 kW or more at directly operated gas stations and logistics centers by 2023.

S-Oil will select gas stations suitable for charger installation among its directly operated stations and install more than 30 chargers annually. SK Gas and E1 will actively identify sites within the metropolitan area’s LPG charging stations where hydrogen charging stations can be established.

With future vehicle charging facilities established at easily accessible urban gas stations, it is expected that charging inconveniences will be significantly alleviated. Additionally, users can efficiently utilize waiting times by using vehicle-related convenience facilities such as car washing and maintenance available at gas stations.

Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae said, "To achieve the future vehicle distribution goals, rapid establishment of charging facilities is most important," adding, "This agreement will be a good opportunity for various businesses to participate in building charging infrastructure."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.