"E-Mobility Regulations Lag Behind Technology"...Ombudsman Visits Yeonggwang Site

Concerns have been raised that current domestic electric mobility (e-mobility) regulations are failing to keep pace with technological advancements or are structurally burdensome for businesses. In response, the Ombudsman for Small and Medium Enterprises has pledged active efforts to drive regulatory innovation.

On April 29, the Ombudsman for Small and Medium Enterprises announced that it had visited the Knowledge Industry Center within the Daema Electric Vehicle Industrial Complex in Yeonggwang County, Jeollanam-do, to hold an on-site communication meeting with the Korea Smart Emobility Association and local manufacturers. The Daema Electric Vehicle Industrial Complex has been designated as an "E-Mobility Regulatory Free Zone," and is fostering an ecosystem specialized in small and medium-sized mobility devices such as ultra-compact electric vehicles, electric bicycles, and electric kickboards.

During the meeting, the Smart Emobility Association submitted proposals to address key challenges facing the industry. First, it recommended that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport raise the current curb weight limit for ultra-compact vehicles by 100 kg. At present, the strict weight limit makes it difficult to equip ultra-compact electric vehicles with batteries that meet consumer needs, and it also restricts the addition of essential safety features.

Seungjae Choi, Ombudsman for Small and Medium Enterprises, is conducting an on-site communication meeting with the E-Mobility Association and manufacturing companies at the Knowledge Industry Center within the Dema Electric Vehicle Industrial Complex in Yeonggwang County, Jeonnam, on the 29th. Ombudsman for Small and Medium Enterprises

원본보기 아이콘

The association also called for the establishment of safety standards for "cargo bikes" (electric cargo bicycles) used for urban logistics. Currently, only standards for regular bicycles exist, which prevents three- and four-wheeled cargo models from being certified and blocks their entry into the market. The association stressed the need to establish appropriate standards for cargo transport vehicles, referencing cases from Europe and other advanced countries.

Proposals were also made to ease certification regulations in order to reduce the financial burden on electric bicycle manufacturers. Currently, if the drive system is changed, the entire product must undergo all tests again. The association requested that, when the main structure such as the frame remains the same, previous test reports be accepted, and that only the items affected by the change in drive system require additional testing, to rationalize the certification process.

Finally, the association expressed the need to establish safety standards and a dedicated licensing system for electric mobility devices with a top speed below 25 km/h, which are ambiguously defined under current law. It pointed out that uncertified products purchased through overseas direct import are being used indiscriminately on public roads, and argued that a certification and management system must be established to ensure public safety.

Choi Seungjae, Ombudsman for Small and Medium Enterprises, stated, "These regulatory improvement proposals lay the foundation for domestic manufacturers to develop high-spec products with global competitiveness. The government will strive to ensure that proactive regulatory innovation serves as a catalyst for the growth of small and medium-sized e-mobility companies."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.