Jeongeup-si Supports Costs for Relocating Electric Vehicle Charging Facilities Above Ground

Published 14 Jun.2023 14:09(KST)

Jeongeup City in Jeonbuk announced on the 14th that it will provide up to 20 million KRW in relocation costs for apartment complexes moving their underground parking lot electric vehicle charging facilities to the ground level.

Electric vehicles experience thermal runaway during fires, which takes considerable time to extinguish. In particular, if an electric vehicle fire occurs in an underground parking lot, the enclosed space and difficulty for fire trucks to access raise concerns about it escalating into a major disaster.

Jeongeup City Promotes Relocation of Electric Vehicle Charging Facilities Installed in Underground Parking Lots of Apartment Complexes to Above Ground
[Photo by Jeongeup City]

Accordingly, central government agencies are promoting legislation to reduce damage from electric vehicle fires, and the Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters is responding to electric vehicle fires with suffocation extinguishing foam and mobile flooding tanks; however, there are no clear measures for electric vehicle fires in underground parking lots.

The city is proactively leading among local governments by promoting a project to relocate underground parking lot electric vehicle charging facilities to the ground level to protect citizens' safety and property.

There are a total of 75 electric vehicle charging facilities installed in underground parking lots within Jeongeup City.

The city has secured an additional budget of 214 million KRW for this relocation project and will support up to 20 million KRW for fast chargers and 3 million KRW for slow chargers for apartment complexes moving these charging facilities to the ground level.

Apartment complexes wishing to relocate should submit a project plan to the Resource Circulation Division at City Hall by the 28th.

Mayor Lee Hak-su said, “We ask that newly installed electric vehicle charging facilities be placed on the ground level,” and added, “We will strive to minimize casualties and property damage caused by electric vehicle fires.”

He continued, “This project is a concrete example of the city administration policy that values citizens' safety as the highest priority,” and added, “We will continue to do our best to make Jeongeup a safe city.”