▲Electric two-wheeler, interchangeable battery and charging station concept diagram (Image source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy)

Ensuring interoperability between modules including electric motorcycle battery charging stations
Expected eco-friendly effects such as fuel cost savings, shorter charging time, and reduced smoke and noise

As the need for standardization of swappable battery stations has arisen due to issues such as charging time (3-4 hours), price (KRW 1-1.5 million) of electric motorcycle batteries, and different specifications by manufacturer, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has established national standards for electric motorcycle swappable battery charging stations (3 types) and electric motorcycles (1 type).

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's National Institute of Standards and Technology (President Jin Jong-wook) announced on Friday the 8th that four types, including the Korean Industrial Standard KS R 6200-1 Electric Motorcycle Exchangeable Charging Station, will be newly established as national standards.

Last year, four national standards were established for interchangeable battery packs for electric two-wheeled vehicles, and this year, by establishing additional national standards for three types of interchangeable battery charging stations for electric two-wheeled vehicles and one type of electric two-wheeled vehicles, the foundation for securing interoperability between modules, including electric two-wheeled vehicle battery charging stations, was laid.

Among the three types of electric two-wheeled vehicle interchangeable battery charging stations, general specifications include rated supply voltage, rated output voltage, usage environment, electric shock protection, fixing method, shape and components, and operating scenarios.

Secondly, safety and performance requirements are divided into general (rated supply voltage, rated output voltage), safety requirements (mechanical and electrical) and time requirements.It states that safety and performance test methods, such as test methods, protection levels, and installation instructions, must be specified.

Finally, the general requirements for public charging stations include general information (rated supply voltage, rated output voltage), classification by voltage (48 V, 72 V), and interoperability for electrical characteristics and communication protocol requirements.

For electric motorcycles (type 1), the requirements for electric motorcycles with common interchangeable battery packs include general information (structure, classification), mechanical and electrical characteristics and communication protocols, and electric motorcycle safety requirements for common interchangeable battery packs.

In the meantime, the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards held three rounds of meetings and briefings with companies to gather opinions from small and medium-sized manufacturers on the safety requirements for electric motorcycles and charging stations, in order to improve their technological competitiveness and ensure interoperability.

The domestic delivery rider industry is expecting eco-friendly effects such as reduced fuel costs, shortened charging time, and reduced smoke and noise.

In the future, the KATS plans to propose national standards established with our technology as international standards in order to take the lead in establishing international standards for electric motorcycles.

Jin Jong-wook, head of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, said, “In order to secure domestic market competitiveness and diversify export markets, it is necessary to establish national standards and lead international standards in the electric two-wheeled vehicle market,” adding, “We will actively support international standards activities so that our country can establish itself as a leader in the electric two-wheeled vehicle and charging station industries.”