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Enjoying the Pristine Nature in Jeju on Electric Vehicles
Although there are multiple ways of enjoying the stunning natural sights on the island of Jeju, the best way to experience the clear breeze and untouched nature in Jeju is to drive along the coastal roads that the island boasts.
In order to conserve the pristine nature on the island, tourists can drive electric vehicles (EV) that do not exhaust polluting gas, instead of cars running with internal combustion engines. At the end of 2016, 6,599 EVs were registered in Jeju, which is 52% of all EVs in Korea. When 7,361 more electric cars are introduced to the island, Jeju will be the first municipality in Korea to operate more than 10,000 EVs.
In relation, the provincial government is expanding policies such as EV purchase stipend, tax benefits, and charger installation: When the province completes the spent battery recycling project, Jeju will become an undisputed global center of electric vehicles, and the effort to eliminate carbon fuel use on the island will accelerate even further. (Source: Jeju EV Private Distribution Project Report, published on January 23, 2017)
This project is based on the Jeju province’s mid-to-long-term plan to transform the island into one that uses no carbon fuel by 2030. To achieve this end, the local government plans to replace all internal combustion engine cars to electric vehicles by 2030, and install 75,000 charging stations, thereby completing a robust electric vehicle ecology.
Source: Jeju EV Growth Mid-to-Long-Term Roadmap (2015)
Samsung SDI, Participating in International Electric Vehicle Expo 2017
Development of electric vehicle (EV) technology is required to successfully execute the mid-to-long-term plan to replace all cars in Jeju with EVs by 2030.
With its know-hows and experience in the battery business for mobile devices, Samsung SDI is leading the charge to open a new era of eco-friendly electric vehicles by developing batteries with high efficiency and high energy density. In January, Samsung SDI exhibited its high energy density battery cell with the 20-minute fast charging capability that extends EV driving range to six hundred kilometers, as well as expandable battery module with 10% less parts and weight, in Detroit Motor Show 2017. In the International Electric Vehicle Expo hosted in Jeju this year, the company is again exhibiting a wide variety of EV battery product lineup to bring Jeju closer to a future without carbon emission.
International Electric Vehicle Expo, in its fourth iteration this year, began in Jeju Island in March 2014. This year’s theme is “The Future of Electric Vehicles and Eco-Friendly Innovation,” and the slogan is “Smarter EV Drives to Eco-Revolution.” Samsung SDI, in addition to participating in the expo, will also give a presentation in the conference session through Dr. Hanho Lee, Vice President for Marketing at Automotive Battery & ESS Business Division, with the topic of “Energy Paradigm in the Era of Electric Vehicles.”
Participating in the International Electric Vehicle Expo, Samsung SDI plans to gather visitors’ attention by displaying its full lineup of battery cell products, as well as battery modules that contain certain numbers of battery cells in a frame to protect the fragile parts, battery packs that link these modules, which are the final products installed on electric vehicles, and a bird’s-eye-view structure of electric vehicle battery system in a vehicle.
The most noticeable feature in the Samsung SDI booth in the expo is BMW i3 model, which uses the company’s battery cell products to roam the island of Jeju. This vehicle, which runs purely on electricity, currently employs ninety-six 60Ah battery cells and will soon employ ninety-six 94Ah battery cells to power the new 2017 model. The current BMW i3 model featuring the 60Ah battery cells has a driving distance of 190km under the European standards, and the one with 94Ah cells can drive for 300km with a full charge. Under the Korean driving distance standards which assume different road conditions and driving patterns, the 60Ah EV model can run for 132km at full charge, and 94Ah model can drive for 200km.
BMW i3 with 94Ah Battery Cells
In addition, Samsung SDI booth also exhibits the full lineup of 26Ah, 28Ah, 34Ah, and 37Ah battery cells for PHEV, in addition to 60Ah and 94Ah models used in regular EVs. Furthermore, the exhibited materials display the EV battery system structure from cell to module, pack, and completed vehicle for easier understanding of the visitors.
Battery Cell Lineup / Battery Cell-Module-Pack Structure
Samsung SDI directed a “Jeju Island & Electric Vehicle Diorama,” which links its battery technologies and products with Jeju tourism, which is expected to capture the attention and imagination of the visitors.
Jeju Island & Electric Vehicle Diorama
BMW i3 with 60Ah battery cells, which is a current model that features 190km of driving distance, is applied to a Jeju tour course of the island’s costal roads: Jeju International Airport → Hyupjae Beach → Yongmeori Coastline → Seogwipo Port → Pyoseonhae Beach → Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak → Jeju International Airport
BMW i3 with 94Ah battery cells, a newer model that features 300km of driving distance, is applied to a Jeju tour course that begins at Jeju International Airport: Manjanggul Cave → Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak → Hallasan Mountain → Seogwipo Port → Teddy Beat Museum → Suweolbong Peak → Osulloc Tea Museum → Hyupjae Beach → Dokkaebi Park → Jeju International Airport. Although the driving distance is reduced under the Korean standards, since Jeju island has the best charging infrastructure in the nation, if the tourists use charging stations located in the airport and renowned tourist attractions in Seogwipo, they will have no problem in driving around the island.
Tour Courses by i3 Model
SNE research forecasts that the global electric vehicle market will grow from 2.8 million cars sold in 2016 to 23 million cars sold in 2025, a rapid increase of 26% on average. While the ratio of EVs to gasoline vehicles is a small 3%, the forecast shows that number will increase to 22% by 2025.
Global Electric Vehicle Market Forecast
Samsung SDI is preparing for the future of rapidly growing electric vehicle market. As shown through the International Electric Vehicle Expo, the company exhibits not only battery cell products, but also module and pack products, while introducing EV battery technologies applied to actual cars. Through this effort, Samsung SDI is advertising the unique and innovative side of its products to automobile OEM companies in Korea and overseas, and the future of electric vehicles to the general consumer base, which is being received with great favor.
Samsung SDI, participating in the expo hosted in Jeju, which dreams of transforming itself into an island with no carbon emission, plans to expand the interest and possibilities for electric vehicles in Korea and the world to vitalize related markets.