Homeplus Co., one of South Korea’s major hypermarket chains, said on Monday that it will install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its 101 stores across the country by the end of this year.

According to Homeplus, it will add high-speed EV charging stations to its 68 stores together with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco). Currently, the retailer offers both high-speed and standard EV charging service at its 33 stores jointly with the Ministry of Environment and Korea Environment Corporation. The company started to install an EV charging station in 2010 at its store in Yeongdeungpo, western Seoul, becoming the first Korean retailer offering EV charging service.

To facilitate EV charging station use, Homeplus plans to exempt EV car owners from parking fees when they charge their cars at Homeplus EV stations. The retailer plans to eventually offer EV charging station service at all of its stores.

Baek Seung-jin, head of construction at Homeplus, said the use of a single electric vehicle helps reduce 2 tons of carbon dioxide annually, which is equal to the effect of planting about 300 pine trees, citing to Korea Forest Service data. The company plans to promote various efforts to help spread the use of electric vehicles, the official said.

By Park Eun-jin

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