[This Person] Park Seong-su, Songpa District Mayor, Proposes 'Electric Vehicle Charging Facility Standards for Transportation Vulnerable'... First in Seoul

Published 06 Dec.2021 07:05(KST)

Updated 06 Dec.2021 14:45(KST)

Proposal for 'Establishing Standards for Electric Vehicle Charging Facilities Considering Transportation-Disadvantaged' at November Seoul District Mayors' Council... Mayor Park Seong-su: "Current EV charging facilities have many restrictions for wheelchair users"... Detailed standards for wheelchair accessibility presented... Original plan approved with consent from 23 districts

[This Person] Park Seong-su, Songpa District Mayor, Proposes 'Electric Vehicle Charging Facility Standards for Transportation Vulnerable'... First in Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, has taken the lead in establishing the first electric vehicle charging facility installation standards in Seoul for transportation-vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities.

Mayor Park stated, "By the end of this year, the number of registered electric vehicles in Korea will reach 220,000, and by 2030, global electric vehicle sales are expected to reach 230 million, signaling that the electric vehicle era is approaching. However, the height of chargers or the narrow width of access roads imposes many restrictions on transportation-vulnerable groups in using electric vehicles."

In fact, although the development and promotion of environmentally friendly vehicles and the installation of charging stations have recently been encouraged under the Act on the Development and Promotion of Environmentally Friendly Automobiles, there are no guidelines for installing charging stations accessible to transportation-vulnerable groups using wheelchairs. As a result, it is difficult for wheelchair users to access charging stations due to narrow access roads or chargers installed at heights that are not easy to operate.

Accordingly, at the 166th regular meeting of the Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors (hereinafter referred to as the Council) held on November 23, Mayor Park proposed establishing related provisions in the "Seoul Metropolitan Ordinance on the Development and Promotion of Environmentally Friendly Automobiles."

The proposal detailed installation standards to enable wheelchair users to access chargers, including securing an effective width of at least 1.5 meters for wheelchair movement for at least one charger among all chargers, leveling the floor within the charging area, setting the height of charging cables and screens to 1.2 meters or less, and installing a canopy of a certain size for rain protection.

As a result of the meeting, all 23 autonomous districts agreed, and the original proposal was approved. Seoul City is also positively reviewing Songpa-gu's proposal.

The Council added that, referring to opinions from related organizations such as the Disability System Improvement Solution and standards from related agencies, it will promote the preparation of "installation standards and installation ratios for convenience-providing electric vehicle charging stations."

Mayor Park Seong-su said, "Installing electric vehicle charging facilities that transportation-vulnerable groups can use comfortably is now a necessity, not a choice. As we have taken a meaningful step to promote the rights and convenience of transportation-vulnerable groups ahead of the electric vehicle era, we will strive to promptly establish the related ordinance."