Hyundai Motor Group last week announced it planned to build a network of high-speed charging stations on major highways in South Korea to cater for growing electric vehicles (EVs) ownership in the country.
The company said it would open 12 fast charging stations, each fitted with 72 chargers, in highway rest areas this year with a further eight to be built in major urban areas.
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Earlier this year Hyundai unveiled the Ioniq 5, its first EV on its dedicated Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). Kia plans to launch its EV6 SUV based on the same platform later this year.
Hyundai sold 16,600 hybrid-electric vehicles in South Korea in the first quarter of 2021 but only 985 battery powered electric vehicles. However, it expects volume to ramp up quickly with the launch of the Ioniq 5.
Kia also sells plug-in hybrid versions of the Niro and Xceed passenger cars and Sorento SUV plus battery-powered variants of the Niro and Soul.
The government has set a target for eco-friendly cars, including hydrogen fuel cell and battery-powered EVs and plug-in hybrids, to account for 30% of total vehicle sales by 2030, up from around 3% now.
