To Accelerate Popularization of EVs

Hyundai Motor Group plans to introduce fast electric vehicle chargers built by Ionity of Germany to Korea. 

Hyundai Motor Group will introduce fast electric vehicle chargers to Korea, the group’s vice chairman Chung Eui-sun said at a meeting with reporters at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Messe, Frankfurt of Germany, on Sept. 10 (local time).

The group is likely to introduce fast electric chargers being built in Europe by Ionity, a fast charging infrastructure builder in Germany. Recently, Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors have jointly secured a 20 percent stake in Ionity through a strategic investment agreement.

Ionity was founded by BMW Group, Daimler AG, Volkswagen Group and Ford. To date, The company has built more than 140 electric vehicle charging stations in the European highway network. In particular, the company is concentrating on building 350 kw fast charging infrastructure which is up to 7 times faster than general chargers. Hyundai and Kia plans to install an 800 V-class charging system capable of fast charging electric vehicles (EVs) to be launched after 2021.

"We will increase production of the Kona and the Niro EVs to cope with growing demand," Chung said. Since their launches, the Kona and Niro SUVs have been so popular that their production has not been able to meet demand from customers. The Kona sold 27,147 units from January to August of this year and the Niro, 17,537 units from January to July of this year. If Chung wants to raise production of the two models, the Ulsan and Hwaseong plants in Korea will jack up their production volume.

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