Hyundai Motor is actively driving the independent development of its Blue Plug ultra-fast chargers , aiming to compete with Tesla’s Supercharger network in the South Korean market. In Q1 2021, the company introduced the fast-charging brand, E-pit. However, progress on the charging network’s establishment has encountered obstacles. Currently, Hyundai Motor Group’s subsidiary, Hyundai KEFICO Corp, a supplier of electronic management systems, is awaiting certification and regulatory approval from the South Korean government for its 360kW ultra- fast chargers. These chargers, built with the CCS charging standard and equipped with V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) technology, are poised for a 2023 market release. As of now, Tesla already operates 701 Superchargers in South Korea.

Hyundai’s Limitation in NACS

In July 2023, Hyundai and six other OEMs announced plans to establish a joint venture to develop a high-speed charging network across North America. It’s challenging Tesla’s supercharging network. While some OEMs, such as Mercedes-Benz, have announced their adoption of the NACS, Hyundai has expressed concerns about joining due to the limitations of 400V charging in Tesla’s existing V3 Superchargers, limiting the benefits of Hyundai’s 800V architecture. This factor is likely a significant driver behind Hyundai’s decision to develop its own ultra-fast chargers .

New Partnership in China

Furthermore, Hyundai is also actively developing its charging infrastructure in China. In August 2023, the group signed a strategic agreement with NaaS Technology, a charging service provider in China with over 500,000 charging points. The aim is to establish interconnectivity and mutual access for charging networks within China.

For full access to our news and insights, log in to our Membership Platform. If you are not a Member, you can request a trial of the platform.

Image credit: Adobe Stock