Seen here is an electric vehicle (EV) charger set up at an apartment parking lot in Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Amid increasing voices pointing out the shortage of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs), the government is taking steps to regulate those who monopolize the use of fast chargers.
The fast chargers run by the state power firm Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) will automatically stop charging if the charging rate of the vehicle hits 80 percent or the charging time reaches one hour, starting from Feb. 3, according to industry sources.
Unlike the fast chargers run by the Ministry of Environment that have a 40-minute time limit for a single use, the ones operated by KEPCO had no such time limit.
Starting from Jan. 28, local governments will be able to form and operate special teams to crack down on unreasonable practices by EV users.
Under the revised enforcement ordinance of the Eco-friendly Vehicle Act, the authority for regulation of EV charging facilities is transferred from metropolitan cities and provinces to the heads of basic autonomous governments, with the coverage of regulation expanding to all charging facilities.
When it comes to Seoul, 25 district offices formed their own teams to levy a fine of 100,000 won (US$84.15) against those who park ordinary vehicles in EV charging zones or fail to move their car even after charging is done.
A fine of 200,000 won will be levied against those who damage charging facilities or the lines and signs indicating charging zones.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
