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As part of its plans to cultivate Korea’s electric car industry and expand the supply of electric cars, Daegu Metropolitan City, through locally-led efforts, aims to become the first local government in the country to establish an infrastructure for electric cars through the installation of charging stations. By October, the city plans to install over 100 chargers at 31 charging stations.
○ Thus far, residents of Daegu have had difficulty charging their electric cars, because the city has only four public rapid-charging facilities (four devices), supplied by the Ministry of Environment (ME). As queues at these charging stations have been quite long, the situation has been very inconvenient for drivers of electric cars.
※ Location of public rapid-charging facilities (provided by the Ministry of Environment): Daegu City Hall, Duryu Park, Daegu Neighborhood Park, EXCO
○ In order to reduce the inconvenience experienced by electric car users and solidify its reputation as a leading city in the electric car industry, Daegu Metropolitan City has invested a total of KRW 4 billion for the installation of 100 electric car chargers. The city also plans to establish a control center system and call center to respond to public complaints.
○ Both slow and rapid chargers will be installed at locations with high accessibility, including Daegu City Hall, district offices, parking lots of public institutions, and major locations both inside and throughout the outskirts of the city. With a control center and call center to assist with systematic management, the city will be able to respond immediately to any citizen complaints.
※ Rapid charger: 20 to 30 minutes (80-percent charge), slow charger: 4 to 5 hours (100-percent charge)
○ Also, through mobile applications and websites, information will be provided on the locations of charging facilities, details of their use, and how to make reservations. Also, those seeking to charge their electric cars will be offered a means of immediately finding the location of the nearest charging station.
○ The Ministry of Environment, KEPCO, and a number of private companies are making plans to install additional chargers so as to create a better environment for the use of electric cars. Such plans are expected to contribute significantly to the cultivation of Daegu’s electric car industry.
○ Thus far, Daegu Metropolitan City has accepted 197 electric car purchase applications through electric car dealerships from both Daegu residents and corporations. Each of those selected for support will receive KRW 18 million for purchasing, KRW 4 million for charger installation, and up to KRW 4 million in tax reduction benefits.
○ Within only nine days (beginning on March 28), 111 applications for the purchase of electric cars were received. With an overwhelming number of inquiries and purchase applications filed each day, Daegu Metropolitan City aims to finish providing its supply of electric cars by April.
○ Director Hong Seok-jun of Daegu Metropolitan City’s Future Industries Headquarters said, “By establishing an infrastructure for the charging of electric cars, the city of Daegu hopes to reduce the inconveniences experienced by electric car drivers thus far and become a leading city in the industry through its increased supply of electric cars.”
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