The electric vehicle rapid charging network WATER announced on the 17th that it has set the rapid charging fee at the member price of 294 won per kilowatt-hour (㎾h) to commemorate the opening of its first electric vehicle charging station at highway rest areas operated by the Korea Expressway Corporation. This fee is among the lowest for rapid charging operators in the country and is even cheaper than some slow charging operators.
WATER opened a new electric vehicle charging station at the Cheontengsan Rest Area in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, on the same day. Each rest area is equipped with two 350㎾ ultra-rapid chargers and one 200㎾ rapid charger. The 200㎾ rapid charger is the first in the country to support both NACS and DC combo charging methods, allowing electric vehicle drivers to use quick and convenient charging services without the need for an additional adapter.
Starting with the bidirectional charging station at Cheontengsan Rest Area, WATER plans to supply 69 units of 200㎾ chargers supporting NACS and DC combo connectors at 46 highway rest areas nationwide, in accordance with a memorandum of understanding signed with the Korea Expressway Corporation last September. Additionally, a total of 206 ultra-rapid and rapid chargers, including 38 units of 350㎾ ultra-rapid chargers and 99 units of 600㎾ separable chargers (three dispensers per unit), will be installed at highway rest areas nationwide by the end of March to significantly strengthen the electric vehicle rapid charging infrastructure.
Daewon Yu, CEO of Water(Brite Energy Partners' EV charging division), said “Charging stations at highway rest areas will serve as essential infrastructure for long-distance electric vehicle operations and will play a ‘heart’ role for WATER’s rapid growth.” He noted, “We will install 1,000 ultra-rapid and rapid chargers by the first half of this year and strengthen our market leadership to rise as a top three player in the CPO industry.”