A driver charges an electric vehicle at a charging station in Seoul. Yonhap News
Seoul’s public electric vehicle charging rates will now vary by charging speed. Slow charging rates will be lowered to ease the burden on users, while ultra-fast charging rates will be raised to reflect installation and operating costs. The rate system will also be aligned with government standards to reduce user confusion.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 31st, the city will subdivide its public EV charging rate system from two tiers to five tiers starting August 1. Currently, rates are divided by charging output into under 100 kW and 100 kW or higher. Going forward, rates will be charged across five categories: under 30 kW, 30 to under 50 kW, 50 to under 100 kW, 100 to under 200 kW, and 200 kW or higher.
As a result, the usage rate for slow chargers under 30 kW will be 295 won per kWh, down 29.4 won, or 9.1 percent, from the previous rate. In contrast, ultra-fast chargers of 200 kW or higher, which carry relatively high installation and operating costs, will rise to 393.1 won per kWh, up 68.7 won, or 21.1 percent. Rates of 307.2 won will apply to chargers of 30 to under 50 kW, 325.6 won to those of 50 to under 100 kW, and 348.4 won to those of 100 to under 200 kW.
The revised rates will apply to 503 public EV chargers installed and operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The city also plans to implement additional discounts on charging rates from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends and holidays in September and October. The aim is to lower the burden on users while dispersing charging demand across different time periods.