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Hong Kicheol, Executive Director of Battery Performance Development at Hyundai Motor Company, received the Green Mobility Award (Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award) in recognition of his significant contributions in leading the development of battery safety diagnostic monitoring technology, which has greatly enhanced the safety of eco-friendly vehicles.

Following the electric vehicle fire in the underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Cheongna, social demands for EV battery safety have risen sharply. Domestic and international automakers have been conducting research and development in various ways to ensure battery safety.

The battery safety diagnostic monitoring technology, first applied to mass-produced vehicles by Hyundai Motor and Kia in 2020, measures voltage, current, temperature, and insulation resistance during charging and parking to detect the state of charge, degradation, and micro-short circuits in advance. When abnormalities are detected, the system actively limits the charge rate or cuts off power, transmits data to a remote support center, contacts the fire department, and sends text messages to the vehicle owner, thus providing a comprehensive risk warning system.

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The Technology Award (Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award) was given to Renault Korea. Renault Korea was highly praised for receiving a great response in the domestic market after launching the mid-size SUV 'Grand Koleos' in September last year.

The Grand Koleos features 'ultra-high-strength hot press forming' components applied to 18% of the body, the highest in its class, and uses high-quality materials such as new giga steel with a tensile strength of over 980 MPa and ultra-high-strength steel plates, ensuring excellent safety. Kim Pilsoo, Professor of Automotive Engineering at Daelim University and head of the judging panel, commented, "Renault Korea contributed to the success of the Grand Koleos by incorporating new technologies."

The Mobility Innovation Award (Minister of Environment Award) was given to BMW Korea and Kumho Tire. BMW Korea was recognized for accelerating the popularization of electric vehicles through its 'Charging Project' to build charging infrastructure. As of last year, BMW Korea had installed 2,125 charging stations and aims to add about 600 more within this year.

Yonhap News

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Kumho Tire was recognized for leading the eco-friendly movement in the tire sector by developing low-wear, low-carbon tires that significantly reduce the emission of pollutants such as fine dust. Eom Myeongdo, Director of the Institute for Transportation Environment Policy and a member of the judging panel, praised the company, stating, "To meet Euro 7 standards, Kumho Tire developed and applied high-performance polymers with enhanced wear resistance, taking technology to the next level."

The Mobility R&D Award (Korea Automobile Mobility Industry Association Award) was presented to Hyundai Mobis, which stood out in core mobility fields such as electrification, autonomous driving, infotainment, and connectivity. Last year, Hyundai Mobis invested a record 1.7 trillion won in research and development, securing numerous key new technologies.

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The Mobility Technology Award and Smart Green Award, presented by the President of Asia Economy, were awarded to Toyota Motor Korea and Kakao Mobility, respectively.

Toyota Motor Korea received high praise for introducing the 'bipolar battery,' which connects battery cells in series using both sides of the battery collector within the EV battery, reducing volume and increasing output. Kakao Mobility, as a mobility platform company, was recognized for fulfilling its social responsibilities in various fields and striving for the transition to green mobility.

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