"Now Even Batteries Are Subscribed"... Hyundai Motor Group Eases Electric Vehicle Usage Burden

Pilot Project Based on Regulatory Exemption for Separate Registration of Vehicle Body and Battery Ownership
Subscription Service for General Consumers Also Planned for Second Half of the Year
"Expected to Contribute to the Government's Future El

Hyundai Motor Group is set to ease the burden of electric vehicle (EV) operation by launching a pilot service that allows users to subscribe to EV batteries separately from the vehicle body.

Hyundai Motor Company Ioniq 5. Hyundai Motor Group

On April 28, Hyundai Motor Group announced that Hyundai Motor Company and Hyundai Capital will jointly conduct a pilot project for an EV battery subscription service in the first half of this year, targeting corporate taxis whose warranty periods have expired. This initiative is based on the special regulation for "separate registration of ownership for EV body and battery," which was approved in November last year through a mobility regulatory sandbox review by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The current Automobile Management Act does not have a system for separately registering and managing batteries independently from EVs. As a result, concerns over battery depreciation and replacement costs due to declining battery performance have been cited as factors that limit demand for EV purchases.

Hyundai Motor Company plans to operate the battery subscription service for five Ioniq 5 units used as corporate taxis in the Seoul metropolitan area. The company will examine how the battery ownership separation structure affects EV operating costs and vehicle utilization periods in real-world conditions.

During the subscription period, participating corporate taxi operators will pay a monthly subscription fee to Hyundai Capital. If a battery replacement is needed, they will return the used battery to Hyundai Capital and receive a battery owned by Hyundai Capital. This service operates on a subscription basis, so there is no need to purchase a battery separately.

Due to the nature of corporate taxis, which accumulate high mileage in a short period, battery performance degradation and replacement needs arise quickly. Accordingly, Hyundai Motor Group aims to comprehensively verify the potential for reducing EV operational costs and extending vehicle lifespans through this pilot program.

In addition, Hyundai Motor Group plans to launch another pilot project in the second half of this year, offering EV sales and battery subscription services to general customers based on the separate registration of body and battery ownership.

A Hyundai Motor Group representative stated, “Through this pilot program, we will be able to verify the real-world effects of battery ownership separation,” adding, “By offering innovative financial and subscription products based on separate EV battery ownership, we aim to reduce the burden of EV purchase and operation for consumers and contribute to the government’s ongoing efforts to expand EV adoption.”

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