Opening of KTC-Hyundai Motor Group EV Charging Infrastructure Quality Certification Center
Korea Testing Certification institute (KTC) announced on June 20th that it has established an EV Charging Infrastructure Quality Certification Center, E-CQV, in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group, the leading automobile manufacturer in Korea. The aim of this partnership is to promote the qualitative growth of the domestic EV market.
On the 19th, KTC held the opening ceremony of E-CQV at its headquarters in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province. The event was attended by KTC President Sungil Ahn, Heung-soo Kim, Vice President of the Global Strategy Office (GSO) at Hyundai Motor Group, Jong-wook Jin , President of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, and Soon-gyu Jung, Director of the Eco-Friendly Vehicle Division at Seoul City, among other domestic industry representatives. During the ceremony, KTC announced its plan to operate the EV charging quality certification system, known as EV-Q certification.
The establishment of E-CQV aims to establish a reliable charging station quality verification system. It will contribute to the expansion of charging station distribution that customers can trust and use, ultimately enhancing the convenience of EV charging for customers.
EV-Q certification includes five additional evaluation criteria for charger quality: durability, reliability, actual charging performance, security, communication compatibility, and electromagnetic compatibility. These criteria are in addition to the existing legal certification for product safety and measurement performance. The certification system operates in an open manner, welcoming all manufacturers and charging service providers, to ensure public interest and transparency.
Hyundai Motor Group has collaborated with KTC to develop the testing and evaluation items and supports various service development efforts to ensure the quality of the EV charging ecosystem. Hyundai Motor Group's focus is on securing the quality of actual user EV charging by incorporating certified quality test cases and know-how into the development and operation of the E-pit charger and infrastructure.
▲ KTC Senior Researcher Seongbu Jeong explaining the equipment and testing methods at E-CQV
KTC is responsible for the entire process of establishing the quality certification center, including construction, testing and evaluation, and certification issuance.
The E-CQV also plans to explore ways to support corporate initiatives aimed at reducing the time and cost for domestic charger manufacturers entering major EV markets worldwide, including North America and Europe. This will be achieved by providing integrated testing and evaluation services domestically and internationally.
As of 2022, Hyundai Motor Group ranked third globally in terms of automobile sales and has been striving to become a leading global company, particularly in the field of EVs. Their efforts include promoting the distribution of high-quality EVs and charging infrastructure to revitalize the mobility industry and position Korea as a leading country in future mobility.
KTC has core testing and evaluation capabilities in various fields related to electric vehicles, such as information and communication, electronic devices, motors, batteries, and chargers. In the field of electric vehicle chargers, KTC has been designated as a testing organization by UL Solutions in the United States, VDE in Europe, TUV Rheinland, JET, and COSMOS in Japan, UL Japan, and PLN, the state-owned power company in Indonesia. These designations support Korean companies' global exports to the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Sungil Ahn, President of KTC, stated, "With the advent of the era of electrification centered on electric vehicles, the importance of ensuring the safety and quality of EV charging infrastructure is becoming increasingly prominent. Through E-CQV, we will make every effort to support domestic companies in leading the global EV charging market."
Heung-soo Kim, GSO of Hyundai Motor Group, stated, "We have established the E-CQV to ensure that customers can have a safe charging experience without concerns about malfunctions. In the future, Hyundai Motor Group plans to take the lead in the qualitative development.
