Korea Airports Corporation Succeeds in Localizing Ground Handling Equipment EV Chargers for the First Time in Korea

by Jun Youngjoo

Published 24 Nov.2025 10:41(KST)

On November 24, Korea Airports Corporation announced that it has completed the development of electric vehicle chargers for airport ground handling equipment, which had previously relied on foreign-made products, and will now begin full-scale commercialization.

Ground handling equipment refers to vehicles and machinery operated within airports for passenger and cargo transportation, such as towing cars (vehicles that tow aircraft), tug cars (vehicles that move baggage or cargo to the aircraft), and step cars (vehicles equipped with stairs).

Korea Airports Corporation successfully conducted a demonstration of an electric vehicle charger for ground handling jointly developed with EVsis at Gimpo Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul on the 19th. Korea Airports Corporation

With the goal of expanding the introduction of eco-friendly equipment at airports, implementing the government's carbon neutrality policy, and reducing dependence on foreign-made equipment, the corporation has been working since June last year with EVsis, a company specializing in electric vehicle chargers, to develop chargers for ground handling equipment. Last month, the charger passed a safety performance test at the Korea Testing Certification (KTC), and on the 19th, a successful demonstration was conducted using actual ground handling vehicles.

The newly developed charger enables real-time communication with vehicles, allowing users to check battery levels, charging times, and power consumption. It is also equipped with three safety monitoring features-detecting sparks, water levels, and tilt-to enhance safety. Additionally, the charger can be operated reliably in various environments at airports nationwide and is compatible with electric ground handling vehicles manufactured overseas.

In particular, the charger is more economical than imported chargers, with a lower production cost and reduced maintenance expenses. After commercialization, operational stability and convenience are expected to improve significantly through rapid parts supply and domestic technical support.

The corporation plans to introduce a total of 54 charging channels by next year, including 24 channels at Gimpo Airport, 18 channels at Gimhae Airport, and 12 channels at Jeju Airport, and to expand the deployment to more than 81 channels at airports nationwide by 2030.

Lee Jeonggi, Acting President of Korea Airports Corporation, stated, "By localizing electric vehicle chargers for ground handling equipment, we will faithfully implement the government's carbon neutrality policy and actively strive for sustainable growth through win-win cooperation with ground handling companies."