Seocho-gu Supports 50% of Electric Motorcycle Charging Costs for Delivery Workers

Installation of 4 Public Battery Exchange Stations for Electric Two-Wheelers, 10 More to Be Added by August...Nation's First 50% Fare Support for Small Business Owners Using Public Electric Two-Wheeler Battery Exchange Stations

Expected Image of Two-Wheeled Vehicle Battery Charging Station

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] A, who lives alone in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, recently felt that the number of delivery motorcycles in front of his house increased as the frequency of ordering delivery food rose due to extended stay-at-home life. While using delivery food services, A was also concerned about the noise and dust caused by the motorcycles constantly roaming the neighborhood.

B, a small business owner, also found the maintenance costs of delivery motorcycles, such as fuel expenses, burdensome due to the recent surge in delivery demand. Although he wanted to switch to electric two-wheelers, the high cost and inconvenience of battery charging made him hesitate.

As delivery demand has increased with the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, causing a surge in the operation of internal combustion engine two-wheelers, the government is expanding subsidies for purchasing electric two-wheelers.

Accordingly, Seocho-gu (Mayor Eunhee Cho) announced that it will establish public battery swapping stations for electric two-wheelers in the district and, for the first time nationwide, support 50% of the usage fees for these public battery swapping stations for small business owners (delivery workers) in Seocho-gu.

First, the district signed an MOU with Signet EV (partner: DNA Motors), a company selected for the Ministry of Environment’s pilot project, and will pilot four public battery swapping stations for electric two-wheelers after May 28, with plans to add nine more stations by August using public phone booths.

The usage method operates by having drivers authenticate themselves (via QR code) and exchange their used battery for a fully charged one.

Notably, unlike the existing battery charging method that takes three hours to fully charge, the newly established public swapping stations allow battery replacement in just 20 seconds.

With this convenience, the district expects the distribution and replacement of eco-friendly electric two-wheelers among the main users, small business owners (delivery workers), to accelerate.

This effort aims to tackle two challenges simultaneously: the climate crisis, which has become more urgent due to COVID-19, and the crisis faced by small business owners.

Seocho-gu Mayor Eunhee Cho stated, “I hope that supporting battery replacement costs in Seocho-gu will help reduce fine dust as well as lower operating costs for small business owners,” adding, “We will strive to protect residents’ health from not only the fine dust crisis but also various climate crises and to create a pleasant city Seocho.”

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