A Grid-Friendly Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: The Korean Approach

Korea has deployed various charging infrastructure, from multiple-outlet ultrafast dc charging stations to built-in metering ac outlets, to relieve range anxiety and improve accessibility. The Korean government raised electric vehicle (EV) and renewables targets to realize carbon neutrality by 2050. The government is also making efforts to utilize EV batteries as a flexible resource to help with the grid connection of massive renewables. Time-of-use (TOU) tariffs and a demand response (DR) program have been introduced to facilitate more daytime charging from photovoltaic (PV) generation and reduce solar curtailment. An ac vehicle-to-grid (V2G) system is also a reality and is being applied to mass produce EVs, and demonstrations are underway. As the introduction of more EV models and the supply chain normalize, EV sales will increase rapidly. Consequently, now is the time for Korea to prepare for and fully embrace a more grid-friendly charging infrastructure for the future.