Hyundai Glovis Obtains Korea's First Patent for 'Electric Vehicle Used Battery Transportation Equipment'

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Hyundai Glovis announced on the 3rd that it has obtained a patent for a ‘platform container’ that transports used electric vehicle batteries of different shapes in a single container.

Used electric vehicle batteries refer to batteries whose performance has dropped to about 70% or less compared to new ones, making them unusable as driving batteries. However, they can be recycled in other areas such as electric vehicle charging stations, and the related market is gradually expanding.

With the abolition of the battery return obligation system to local governments starting from electric vehicles produced this year, Hyundai Glovis’ Integrated Logistics Research Institute accelerated the patent application process. The patented container features a variable rail structure that allows the size of the container itself to be freely adjusted. This enables it to carry batteries of various shapes from multiple vehicle models, not limited to a single model, and is expected to serve as Korea’s first dedicated ‘platform’ for used electric vehicle batteries.

Using the patented container by Hyundai Glovis also allows for multi-layer stacking. As a result, the loading capacity for used batteries increased from a maximum of 5 to 17 units on an 11-ton cargo truck, improving efficiency by more than three times. Since it can be loaded directly into containers, overseas export via maritime transport is also expected in the future. Additionally, by adopting insulating materials, it is effective in preventing short circuits, and special fixing devices ensure the safe transportation of used batteries.

Hyundai Glovis has been conducting test transports since last year to verify transportation capabilities. In the future, by introducing a monitoring system, it will be possible to track the current location of the patented container in real time, enabling more systematic transportation.

Hyundai Glovis expects to play a leading role as a benchmark in the used electric vehicle battery transportation market through this patent acquisition. The Korea Energy Economics Institute estimates that the amount of used batteries generated domestically will sharply increase from about 4,700 units last year to approximately 80,000 units by 2030.

The used battery transportation business is an eco-friendly business representing a virtuous cycle structure, as it reduces environmental pollution caused by battery disposal and leads to recycling. It also aligns with ‘ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)’ management, which is recently considered an essential keyword for corporate sustainability.

A representative from Hyundai Glovis’ Integrated Logistics Research Institute said, “Although the outlook is bright, it is meaningful that we have pioneered a new path in the used battery market, which lacked related technology, by developing our own container,” adding, “We will continue to actively develop new technologies considering the environment and proceed as a smart logistics company.”

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