▲Kim Dae-hwan, Chairman of the International Electric Vehicle Expo Organizing Committee


Electric Vehicles: Raising Consumer Awareness is Essential
The era of carbon neutrality may arrive sooner than expected.

"If policies and systems that clearly outline a vision for expanding electric vehicle adoption are established, the era of carbon neutrality could arrive much sooner than expected."

The 9th International Electric Vehicle Expo opened on the 3rd at the Jeju International Convention Center.

The International Electric Vehicle Expo is a global expo focusing on electric vehicles and e-mobility business, with participation from over 50 countries. Trade consultations and international conferences will be held on-site and online, and spectator-friendly events such as test drives and electric vehicle rallies will also be available.

On the 3rd, our magazine met with Kim Dae-hwan, the organizing committee chairman of the 9th International Electric Vehicle Expo, and discussed the event and the future of electric vehicles.

Kim Dae-hwan, the chairman of the organizing committee and current president of the Global Electric Vehicle Association (GEAN), is a figure who has contributed to the development of the global electric vehicle industry through hosting the International Electric Vehicle Expo and international networks, solving global environmental problems such as greenhouse gas reduction, and developing culture through electric vehicles.

Kim Dae-hwan, the organizing committee chairman, was able to meet with me after the 7th General Assembly & Global EV Forum of the World Electric Vehicle Association, where he served as the chairman.

▲ Organizing Committee Chairman Kim Dae-hwan is giving an opening address.

Chairman Kim, who was very busy preparing and running the event, welcomed us without showing any signs of fatigue.

He skipped lunch and gave an interview. He was holding a Hallabong in one hand and quickly ate, but he looked serious when talking about the Expo and Jeju.

He expressed his joy at hosting this event, saying that with the social distancing measures for COVID-19 eased, the number of participating companies and visitors has increased compared to the previous event, and many foreign dignitaries have also visited, allowing the expo to be filled with more diverse sessions.

Electric cars, which had not been popular for a long time, are making history in Jeju Island, which is called the Carbon Free Island. He also expressed his special affection for Korea.

An idea that began 13 years ago in the small island village of Gapado, it developed into the Jeju Green Island Forum, and then expanded beyond Jeju to form a network with countries such as the UK and Denmark, evolving into an international green island forum.

The electric car was the intersection of the vision of making Jeju a sustainable green island and the efforts of those who wanted to find new growth engines for Jeju and foster global powerhouses in Jeju.

Afterwards, we gradually established a framework through our own forums and seminars and small exhibitions.

He also expressed pride in the fact that the electric vehicle sector, which was one of the many opinions on creating a green island, has now developed into the Davos Forum e-mobility Olympics, a self-proclaimed electric vehicle sector with over 50 countries participating.

Kim, the organizing committee chairman, went on to say that the organization is working with the Indonesian Electric Vehicle Association, established five years ago with support from the Global Electric Vehicle Council, to prepare a Global EV Forum for the G20 Summit in Bali in October. Last March, Hyundai Motor Company began production at its Indonesian plant. While this is significant not only because Hyundai is a Korean company, he expressed his pride at the fact that Indonesia, previously considered a mere sales market, has entered the manufacturing market and become a thriving EV market.

He expressed regret about Korea's electric vehicle ecosystem. Chairman Kim also expressed his dismay at the collapse of the automotive industry's upstream and downstream parts industries and the difficulty for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enter the market.

He emphasized that for the development of domestic electric vehicles, systems and policies that support startups and venture companies that can enter the market and shine are a top priority. He added that active policy support from the national and local governments is necessary for this.

As an example, I cited Norway's incentive policy. Norway offers incentives for electric vehicles, including access to bus-only lanes and priority boarding on ferries. It's argued that these incentives are more effective than subsidies.

One direction for the development of electric vehicle SMEs is the development of regionally tailored electric vehicles. Regions like Jeju Island and Udo Island don't need to travel 1,000 kilometers on a single charge or reach speeds of 300 kilometers per hour. They emphasized the need to create an ecosystem that allows for the production of a wide variety of products in small quantities, with electric vehicles tailored to each region.

Kim, the organizing committee chairman, said that both the World Electric Vehicle Association and the International Electric Vehicle Expo Organizing Committee are working to raise consumer awareness of electric vehicles to expand their adoption. He believes that many consumers remain skeptical about the performance of electric vehicles.

He asserted that there was no need to worry about the performance of electric vehicles. While electric vehicles are undoubtedly a way to combat climate change, he argued that their power and performance are no less than those of internal combustion engines. He himself drives an electric vehicle and reported no discomfort. He also cited the advancements made by Lima Automatic Mobili iMac Automobiles, a Croatian company in which Hyundai Motor Company invested, boasting a 0-60 mph time of 2.8 seconds.

This is why the International Electric Vehicle Expo actively incorporated test-drive experiences. It embodies Organizing Committee Chairman Kim's hope that consumers will experience the excellence and advancement of electric vehicles firsthand through test drives and experiences of various electric vehicles.

Kim, the organizing committee chairman, said that if policies and systems that can clearly present a vision for expanding the use of electric vehicles are established, the era of carbon neutrality could arrive much sooner than expected.

He concluded by saying that although the electric vehicle penetration rate in Korea is only 1%, he expects the future he envisions to come through development, design, and investment.