1. Study Objectives and Method
■ Research background and purpose
○ As part of its core carbon neutrality policies aimed to reduce greenhouse gas in the transportation sector, the government is promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs). However, for a rapid shift to zero-emission vehicles, the rollout of a robust EV charging infrastructure is critical, along with the overhaul of related maintenance and management policies.
○ This study aims to analyze the current policies governing EV charging facilities in Jeollabuk-do to identify major issues and propose measures to address them.
■ Research methods
○ To ascertain how EV charging facilities are currently being managed, this study reviewed the status of EV deployment and conducted a statistical analysis of EV charging ports operated by the Korea Environment Corporation, while setting a target for the number of EV charging ports to be installed in Jeollabuk-do.
○ To identify major issues, a series of in-depth interviews were conducted with EV users (a monitoring group working to promote happiness for every resident, Jeollabuk-do Research Center), public officials in charge, and private businesses involved in EV charging facilities. Additionally, a keyword search was performed on the bulletin board of the EV Club.
2. Conclusion and Policy Suggestion
■ Major issues
○ As of March 2022, 3,220 EV charging ports were in operation in Jeollabuk-do, representing one charging port per 2.6 EVs. Such a supply ratio of EV charging facilities is higher than the national average of 2.9.
○ Major complaints from users of EV charging stations include damaged plugs, connector mismatches, and the need to carry multiple cards. Common risks are primarily related to health and safety accidents such as electromagnetic waves and electric shocks.
○ Public officials in charge find it difficult to incorporate public interest when selecting the location of an EV charging station as most profit-oriented suppliers compete for a limited number of popular locations. They also point out the lack of corporate information and guidelines.
○ Those businesses which currently supply EV charging facilities are operating the service at a loss but keep operating the facilities in anticipation of future market potential. Therefore, their poor facility management and maintenance frequently result in low customer satisfaction.
○ Despite the high level of users’ public awareness, a lack of common courtesy, on some occasions, has led to an increase in conflicts between EV and non-EV owners.
○ Searching for posts that contain the word “charging” in the title on the EV community bulletin board over a specific period revealed that the most popular keywords were ‘card’, ‘cost of charging’, ‘apartment’, ‘fast charging’, ‘slow charging’, and ‘free’.
■ Policy recommendations
○ Based on the examination of EV charging facilities management policies via issue analysis and case studies, we formulated four directive principles as follows and proposed 14 policy projects for the supply and management of EV charging facilities in Jeollabuk-do.
○ First,
- Leveraging high-quality maintenance of EV charging facilities to establish effective monitoring and response systems for timely troubleshooting and safety management and to ultimately provide safe charging environments
- Constructing a user-friendly charging environment by introducing additional convenience facilities and reinforcing safety features
○ Second,
- Devising detailed strategies for the efficient supply of EVs and EV charging stations to lay the foundation of a systematic charging infrastructure
- Developing action plans for the systematic charging infrastructure, including a private–public collaboration model, charging facilities tailored to demand, and an integrated card system
○ Third,
- Providing a forum through which users, managers, and suppliers can communicate on a regular basis to minimize conflicts and create a healthy charging facility culture
- Pursuing a system that promotes enhanced mutual understanding among stakeholders to thrive together
○ Fourth,
- Seeking to combine charging facilities with new and emerging industries to revitalize the regional economy
- Taking advantage of industrial support policies—designed to promote new and emerging industries—to expand charging management and maintenance infrastructures (inspection and repair centers) and install charging facility hubs
○ Additional request for measures to be addressed at the government level
