Hyundai Motor's E-Pit

Recently, as automakers started working on electrification, they launched their own sub-brands and entered this business with a new brand. It is the charging station business. ​ Tesla was the first to pioneer this field. Tesla has improved charging convenience by deploying Tesla Superchargers, a dedicated charging station with a nice design, in countries that are entering the market. There are several superchargers in Korea, but unfortunately, it is true that there are still insufficient superchargers compared to the cars sold.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen and Porsche operate a joint venture. It is a corporation called Ionity, so if you look at the pictures of electric vehicles of the four companies, you can often see that Ionity is charging. ​ In addition, BMW is developing BMW Fast Charge along with iWallbox, but Ionity has expanded a lot of infrastructure.

Of course, these charging stations are not exclusive to vehicles of that brand. Of course, it's also not free to use. ​ Still, there are some implications for automakers to deploy these charging stations themselves.

First of all, it is the will of the manufacturer to create an infrastructure to some extent by taking the drive in earnest to electrification and taking the most urgent charging problem to be solved. Of course, it's not easy. Once the site has to be purchased and management personnel have to be assigned, there is a cost burden.

Nevertheless, it seems to be interpreted like this to proceed with the investment. Selling a smartphone with an adapter? 

And another meaning is, although it hasn't been announced in detail yet.... In the future, when companies selling electric vehicles play a complex role as service providers, these charging stations become a point of contact with customers. Porsche is said to be offering a variety of additional services through Ionity in the future. For example, it is said that it will also provide services such as a simple rest area.

That is, we will provide services for customers based on charging stations and create new sources of revenue, rather than limited customer contact points such as road billboards or exhibition halls. ​ Anyway, at this point, car companies are showing active interest in the charging station business for more electric vehicle distribution and for the future.

The most hesitant part of buying an electric car is the charging habit. Hyundai Motor Company also opened a charging station exclusively for Hyundai Motor Company in Gangdong.

Opened in Gangdong-gu under the name of Hyundai EV Station, this charging station has about 8 high chargers installed, a crew that helps charging and a space where you can experience electric vehicles, and a cafe and SK Magic are also located here. It has an exhibition hall and is used as a complex space. ​ First of all, the fact that there is a space for Hyundai EV in the middle of the city is quite encouraging... ​ At this time, Hyundai Motor Company has created a brand dedicated to electric vehicle charging such as Tesla Supercharger and Ionity.

Feet is the same as feet, the term used in motorsport. So it means you can come in as if doing a pit stop, charge the electric vehicle, and leave.

First of all, there are three main contents of the service, and the first is, after all, speed. As e-GMP is an 800V system, it is also true that a charging station capable of fast charging is required. So, in Epit, fast charging is the standard, which allows you to enjoy the charging performance of e-gmp as much as possible. ​ So, it is said that it can be charged to 80% within 18 minutes, and it is said that a 5-minute charge can drive about 100km.

And one more difference here is plug and charge. This is simply a story of just arriving, plugging in, and leaving when charging is complete. All electric vehicles on the e-gmp platform will be equipped as standard functions.

Of course, that doesn't mean it's free. ​ Recently, Hyundai Motor Company is using the NFC function to provide Hyundai Pay or Genesis Pay service, which seems to be used here. So, it seems that there is no need to touch the card or press the card number before recharging, but it seems to have provided a function so that payment can be made automatically even if you just enter, recharge, and leave immediately.

In addition, the e-pit application allows automatic payment, so it is not necessary to carry a card for each charging service provider. ​ Another notable area is the cable. As anyone who has ever charged this will know, the electric vehicle charging cable is heavy and heavy, but there are times when it is difficult to plug in the charging port because it is particularly stiff. This is a very difficult process, especially for female drivers with weak arm and wrist strength. ​ So, it is said that the cable is made softer than before so that anyone can easily operate it.

The design is also impressive. ​ As you can see, this structure is quite familiar. It is almost similar to the structure of a gas station. With this roof, you can charge it without problems even when it rains, and you don't have to leave the car for 20 minutes in the sun, so it seems convenient.

 

In fact, Hyundai Motor Company is talking about creating new business opportunities for not only charging companies, but also car wash and other service providers connected with it as another goal, but there is a possibility that it will be operated as a small business site. ​ Hyundai Motor Company plans to open 12 expressway rest areas nationwide from April as early as two feet, and it is said that it plans to open about 8 dedicated charging stations in the city center.

After opening, I'm thinking of going and seeing it once when the time comes. Anyway, it seems that Hyundai is struggling quite a bit to increase the penetration rate of electric vehicles. ​ In particular, it seems that the problem of charging, which was the biggest obstacle to the use of electric vehicles, is gradually being solved by itself as it is spreading such infrastructure along with 800V charging of e-gmp.