Unlike its unrivaled market share, KIA could do better in building the charging infrastructure.
This year Kia`s `Soul EV` was the best-selling electric vehicle in the domestic electric vehicle market. However, unlike its unparalleled market share, Kia was found to be negligent in building the charging infrastructure. Backed by the government`s one-sided subsidy, the auto maker is bent on selling cars rather than creating the use environment including the charging infrastructure.
According to the Ministry of Environment and auto makers on December 8, out of the 857 electric vehicles sold this year, except for the 130 electric vehicles that the Ministry of Environment is currently distributing, 311 was Kia`s `Soul EV` and 183 was ‘Ray EV.’ 6 out of 10 electric vehicles sold this year were made by Kia. Renault Samsung sold 203 ‘SM3 Z.E.,’ and BMW 83 ‘i3’ and GM Korea 49 ‘Spark EV.’ The increased sales of Kia`s electric vehicle is mostly attributed to the fact that Kia released the latest-model electric vehicles with greatly enhanced performance earlier this year.
Apart from the electric vehicle sales performance, it turned out that BMW Korea has a big lead over the others in terms of building the charging infrastructure. BMW Korea built 120 charging stations, followed by Kia (55), Renault Samsung (10) and GM Korea (5).
BMW Korea installed charging stations in 80 or so discount stores around the country so that everyone can use them, whereas Kia and Renault Samsung installed them at its own service centers and sales agencies exclusively for its own customers. For this reason, people driving competitors` electric vehicles have limited access to the charging infrastructure. Although GM Korea built only a few charging stations, it installed the combo-type (type 1) quick chargers, capable of charging 80% in about 20 minutes, in public facilities like Changwon City Hall so that anyone can use them.
This is why local governments, trying to popularize electric vehicles in the private sector, say domestic auto makers are very tight-fisted when it comes to building the charging infrastructure. “In the US, Europe and Japan, auto makers are directly building the charging infrastructure to create stable market conditions,” said an insider of a local government. “We must improve the support system so that auto makers can take the initiative in building the charging infrastructure rather than the government bearing all the burdens.”
The Ministry of Environment is planning to distribute 3000 electric vehicles and personal chargers in the private sector and install 100 quick chargers in areas where many electric vehicles are used next year.
Park Tae-joon | gaius@etnews.com