The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a new measure to limit electric vehicles (EVs) to charging only up to 80% state of charge (SoC) at public fast-charging stations. This initiative aims to reduce the time EVs occupy chargers and alleviate congestion.
Set to be implemented by the end of the year, the regulation will apply to 400 ultra-fast chargers with a capacity of 100 kilowatts owned by the government, according to local media reports. This step is part of the city’s broader strategy to optimize the use of its EV charging infrastructure.
This approach is not unique to Seoul. Electrify America, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, recently introduced a similar pilot program at ten locations in the United States, limiting EV charging to 85% SoC. The objective in both cases is to free up charging stations more quickly and manage congestion, as the final phase of charging typically slows down to ensure battery longevity and safety.
The new measure comes on the heels of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Seoul City and LG Electronics. Under this agreement, LG will install over 50 public fast-chargers in Seoul by 2026 and provide additional slow chargers, although the exact number of slow chargers has not been specified.
