Author: Min-jae Kim

Water, the electric vehicle charging brand of South Korean renewable energy company Bright Energy Partners, plans to open 23 new fast-charging sites along highways across South Korea. The company has already opened the first location ahead of the planned October rollout. The expansion will add 123 chargers across highway rest areas, with a focus on higher-power charging for newer electric vehicles. 400 kW Chargers Lead the Expansion Each of the 23 new charging sites will include at least two ultra-fast chargers rated at 400 kW. Across the new network, 62 chargers will offer 400 kW output, while another 46 will…

Hyundai is reportedly preparing to expand its Ioniq electric vehicle family with two additional models, the Ioniq 4 and Ioniq 7, within the next 12 to 18 months. According to British automotive publication Auto Express, the two models are expected to be electric SUVs positioned between the existing Ioniq 3, Ioniq 5, and Ioniq 9. Hyundai describes Ioniq as a dedicated sub-brand for next-generation electric vehicles and e-mobility. The lineup currently includes the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Ioniq 9, and the recently introduced Ioniq 3 in Germany. The Ioniq 3 is a compact hatchback with an aerodynamic body and a…

LG Innotek has begun operating sensor-equipped vehicles on South Korean roads in partnership with U.S. autonomous driving software company Applied Intuition to collect real-world data and improve technologies used by self-driving vehicles to interpret their surroundings, The Korea Times reported. The companies launched the data collection programme in Korea with plans to expand the fleet to 20 vehicles by 2028. Initial operations will focus on Seoul, Incheon and surrounding areas of Gyeonggi Province, with vehicles supporting both road data collection and autonomous driving software development. Applied Intuition Supports Data Collection Programme The partnership with Applied Intuition gives LG Innotek access…

Hyundai Motor and Kia are collaborating with LG Energy Solution on a demonstration project in South Korea that combines second-life electric vehicle batteries with a battery energy storage system for EV charging infrastructure. The pilot is designed to assess whether batteries removed from electric vehicles can be safely and economically reused as stationary energy storage systems. It uses decommissioned battery packs from vehicles based on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform and is described by the companies as the first demonstration in South Korea to use decommissioned E-GMP battery packs for this type of application. 200 kWh Battery Storage System The…

Kia has unveiled the PV7 electric van at IAA Transportation 2026, expanding its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) range with a larger commercial model that offers more cargo capacity, payload and battery energy than the smaller PV5. The PV7 will use an 800-volt electrical architecture, compared with the PV5’s 400-volt system, and will be offered with two NMC battery options. European deliveries are planned to begin in the second half of 2027. The PV7 is the second model in Kia’s PBV strategy, which the company introduced at the beginning of 2024. The smaller PV5 was the first production model and is…

Hyundai Motor Group is partnering with energy platform Kaluza to integrate smart charging controls directly into the digital platforms used by Hyundai and Kia electric vehicle drivers. The initiative will initially launch in the United Kingdom before expanding to Australia and other markets, with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services planned for Hyundai and Kia vehicles from 2027. Smart Charging Comes to Hyundai and Kia Apps The partnership will bring Kaluza’s energy intelligence technology directly into the Kia App and myHyundai App, allowing battery-electric vehicle drivers to manage charging through the same digital platforms they already use for their vehicles. https://evmagz.com/hyundai-targets-3-minute-charging-as-automaker-develops-faster-400-kw-ev-systems/ Drivers will…

Hyundai Motor Company has outlined its growth strategy through 2030, maintaining a target of 5.55 million annual vehicle sales while aiming for electrified models to account for 60% of sales across the Hyundai and Genesis brands. More Than 100 Models Planned Hyundai plans to launch or update more than 100 vehicle models globally by 2030. The company did not provide a specific battery-electric vehicle sales target, but said the 60% electrified sales target will include full hybrids. https://evmagz.com/hyundai-starts-ioniq-3-ev-production-in-turkey-after-e250-million-plant-upgrade/ The strategy applies to Hyundai and Genesis and does not cover Kia, which operates under a separate product roadmap. Hyundai plans to…

EcoPro BM is investing around 40 billion won, or approximately €25 million, to adapt its cathode material plant in Debrecen, Hungary, for production of high-nickel NCM materials for European automotive customers. The South Korean manufacturer plans to begin supplying material containing more than 90% nickel to an unnamed German premium automaker from the fourth quarter of 2027. Debrecen Plant Adds NCM Production EcoPro BM is modifying an existing production line at its Hungarian facility that was originally designed to manufacture NCA cathode material. The upgraded line will also be capable of producing NCM cathode materials, and the company has already…

Hyundai Motor has unveiled the Genesis GV90, an all-electric large SUV that becomes the luxury brand’s largest vehicle and expands its U.S. lineup to seven models. The up to seven-seat EV will be produced at a new Hyundai facility in Ulsan, South Korea, and is expected to go on sale in the United States early next year. Genesis Expands Into Large Electric SUV Segment The GV90 represents a new design direction for Genesis and will be the brand’s fourth electric vehicle offered in the U.S. Genesis expects the model to compete in the large luxury SUV segment against vehicles including…

Shell Lubricants and Hyundai Motor Company have renewed their global partnership for another five years, extending a collaboration that began in 2005. The agreement maintains Shell as Hyundai Motor’s recommended global supplier of aftersales lubricants while expanding joint work on lubricant technologies, vehicle programmes and customer service. The renewal is the fifth since the companies began working together and covers product development, motorsport engineering and aftersales activities. https://evmagz.com/hyundai-starts-ioniq-3-ev-production-in-turkey-after-e250-million-plant-upgrade/ Partnership Expands Into EV-Related Technologies Under the renewed agreement, Shell and Hyundai will continue developing lubricant technologies for Hyundai vehicles and supporting high-performance vehicle programmes. The companies also plan to expand cooperation…

Hyundai has started series production of the all-electric Ioniq 3 at its İzmit plant in Turkey following a €250 million upgrade of the facility. The compact electric car is being produced for the European market, with Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır saying initial annual production is planned at 30,000 units. The start of production makes the İzmit facility Hyundai’s first plant in Turkey to manufacture battery-electric passenger vehicles. The Ioniq 3 is scheduled to enter the European market in October. İzmit Plant Begins Electric Vehicle Production Hyundai has modernised more than half of the İzmit plant over…

South Korea plans to transition newly purchased or leased police vehicles to electric and hydrogen models by 2035, as the government moves to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles across the public sector. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) and Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) signed a memorandum of understanding on July 30 to advance the initiative. The agreement was announced at Gangnam Police Station in Seoul, where the agencies also launched a pilot programme for an eco-friendly police station. Police Fleet Begins Shift To Zero-Emission Vehicles South Korea’s police fleet…

Hyundai has appointed former Nvidia and Samsung Electronics executive Junghyun Kwon to lead its Autonomous Driving Development Center, strengthening the group’s efforts to expand autonomous driving, software and artificial intelligence capabilities. Kwon will oversee the development of autonomous driving technologies across Hyundai Group, covering the process from initial concept development through market launch. He will report to Minwoo Park, president and head of Hyundai’s Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division. Former Nvidia Executive Brings AI And Autonomous Driving Experience Kwon brings experience in artificial intelligence, autonomous driving software and robotics. He worked at Nvidia from 2018 to 2023, where he was…

Researchers at Hanyang University in South Korea have identified a previously overlooked ageing mechanism affecting next-generation cobalt-free, nickel-rich battery cathodes, revealing that exposure of precursor materials to air before production can significantly shorten battery lifespan. The findings highlight a manufacturing challenge for emerging high-energy battery chemistries designed to reduce dependence on cobalt while maintaining the energy density required for future electric vehicles. Air Exposure Found to Accelerate Battery Degradation The research focused on cobalt-free cathodes featuring a nickel-rich core surrounded by a manganese-rich protective shell, a material architecture considered a promising alternative for future lithium-ion batteries. According to the study,…

Volvo Car Korea has opened sales of the all-electric ES90 in South Korea, introducing its flagship battery-powered sedan in one of the automaker’s key global markets with a starting price of 72.94 million won (€43,500). The launch positions the ES90 in the country’s premium electric vehicle segment, where it will compete with models including the Mercedes-Benz EQE and BMW i5. Volvo said the Korean pricing is more than 50 million won lower than in major European markets, underscoring the importance of South Korea in the company’s electric vehicle strategy. https://evmagz.com/volvo-begins-production-of-fully-electric-es90-sedan-in-europe/ Volvo Targets More Than 3,000 Annual Sales Speaking at the…

Kia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with KT and SUM to commercialize remote driving services for its PV5 purpose-built vehicle (PBV), with a commercial launch targeted before the end of 2026. Partnership to Advance Remote Driving The agreement brings together Kia, telecommunications provider KT and remote driving technology company SUM to develop the infrastructure and operational framework required for remote vehicle control. https://evmagz.com/kia-expands-pv5-electric-van-range-with-new-entry-level-cargo-and-seven-seat-passenger-models/ The collaboration follows Kia’s first public-road demonstration of remote driving technology in South Korea in November 2025. Remote driving enables vehicles to be operated from an external control center using 4G or 5G mobile networks.…

Hyundai Motor Group has introduced AllDayEnergy, a new global brand that brings together its vehicle-to-everything (V2X) energy services under a single identity as the company expands its electric vehicle energy ecosystem. Unified Brand for Energy Services The AllDayEnergy brand will begin rolling out in the United Kingdom through the Kia App during the second half of 2026 before expanding to other European markets, the United States and South Korea. https://evmagz.com/hyundai-motor-group-opens-waste-to-hydrogen-facility-in-south-korea/ The platform combines three V2X services under one brand: V1G smart charging, which schedules vehicle charging based on real-time electricity prices and grid conditions. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G), allowing electric vehicles to…

South Korea has proposed new carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission standards for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, requiring manufacturers to progressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2027. The draft regulations form part of the country’s strategy to accelerate the adoption of battery-electric and hydrogen-powered trucks and buses while supporting its 2030 climate targets. Three-Phase Rollout The new requirements will be introduced in three stages between 2027 and 2030. The first phase will apply to heavy trucks and tractor units weighing more than 15 tonnes, followed by medium and large buses, before expanding to medium-duty trucks and dump trucks. By 2030,…

Hyundai Motor Group has entered into a partnership with the South Korean Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Korea Environment Corporation to expand Plug and Charge (PnC) technology across the country’s electric vehicle charging network. The initiative aims to simplify public charging by allowing compatible electric vehicles to authenticate and begin charging automatically without requiring mobile apps, RFID cards, or additional user verification. National Plug and Charge Certification System According to Yonhap News Agency, Hyundai Motor Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government to establish a national certification system for Plug and Charge services. As…

South Korea has introduced a stricter approval process for its electric vehicle subsidy programme, requiring manufacturers and importers to pass a comprehensive government assessment before their vehicles can qualify for purchase incentives. Under the new framework, BYD became the only major battery-electric passenger vehicle manufacturer that failed to secure approval, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily. New Evaluation Expands Beyond Vehicle Performance The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Energy assessed manufacturers using a broader set of criteria than in previous years. In addition to vehicle technology, the evaluation examined each company’s technological capabilities, contributions to the domestic supply chain, compliance…