Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
GM Korea to unveil EV Volt next year
General Motors’ second-generation Volt, an extended range electric vehicle, will be launched here next year. The Volt can run up to 676 kilometers combined with a single charge and full gas tank. / Yonhap
By Park Jin-hai
CEO Rocha denies report of plant relocation to India
By Park Jin-hai
GM Korea said Monday that it will launch the next generation Chevrolet Volt here in 2016.
The car is an extended range electric vehicle that can go up to 80 kilometers using its battery and up to 676 kilometers combined with a single charge and gasoline fill up.
GM made the announcement at the Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition (EVS28) at the KINTEX, Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province.
The international symposium under the theme of “e-Motional Technology for Humans,” kicked off Monday at the exhibition center. Scholars and major carmakers will discuss ways to expand the sustainability of electric vehicles until Wednesday.
GM Korea chief executive Sergio Rocha said, "Our goal is not just to keep up the (electric car) trend, but to lead it and that's why I am very pleased to officially announce the new generation Volt will be introduced in South Korea next year."
He said volt will be a “game changer” in the domestic market with its industry-leading electrification technology and outstanding features.
Meanwhile, he denied a Reuters report that General Motors plans to make India its new global manufacturing hub as it faces ballooning costs in Korea.
Asked by reporters whether the report on the relocation of plants to India was true, Rocha replied: “That is what we are not going to do ... yes, we are much concerned about labor costs, but not only GM in Korea, but in the whole industry.”
Visitors look at Hyundai Motor’s fuel cell electric vehicle, the ix35, during the 28th Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition (EVS28) at KINTEX, in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. / Yonhap
At the same time, GM Executive Director of Global Transmission and Electrification Larry T. Nitz said that now is the greatest time because carmakers are delivering not only “e-Motional” cars, but also “emotional cars” that provides customers what they want.
“Creating e-Motional electrified vehicles that customers not only choose to purchase but love to own is at the heart of what we are doing at General Motors,” Nitz said. “The shift of the global population to cities is creating both opportunities for innovation in electrified transportation and challenges in infrastructure to support plug-in vehicles.”
Renault Samsung Motors also announced that it will launch its two-passenger electric Twizy here. It did not disclose when.
It has decided to launch an ultra-small electric vehicle, only a third the size of an ordinary passenger sedan, in Korea following “satisfactory” progress in talks with relevant authorities for its sale.
The Twizy launched in global markets in 2012 produces no emissions, but has yet to be launched in Korea because of government safety regulations.
Renault Samsung CEO Francois Provost said that he expects meaningful progress in a few weeks, possibly clearing the way for the introduction of the Twizy, a vehicle he sees as an effective "micro-urban mobility solution" to many customers.
Its pilot driving test will be conducted during the first half of this year, according to the company.
Gilles Normand, Renault’s senior vice president, said that the global auto industry has been realigning around EVs, which are growing 25 times faster than hybrid cars, adding that every three minutes across the world a customer switches from a petrol to an EV car.
A pioneer in EV development in Korea is Jeju Island, and the Renault VP added that he will popularize EVs by launching the Twizy here and further change the automotive culture.
He forecast that electric vehicles will account for about 10 percent of the global mature automobile market by 2020.
Hyundai Motor Vice President Lee Ki-sang introduced the Clean Mobility Roadmap ― a three stage plan where the carmaker will decrease the carbon dioxide emissions by improving fuel efficiencies of gasoline and diesel cars; change into PHEV and HEV; and ultimately go toward the FCEV and EV.
“A total of 1,000 EVs is equivalent to mitigating 3,000 ton of carbon dioxides and planting 667,000 trees,” he said.
Lee said Hyundai has been pursuing dual track of the second and third stages simultaneously, pledging to launch a full line-up of 22 EVs over the next five years.
Sunwoo Myoung-ho, chairman of the 28th EVS, said in a welcoming message that: “As the electric vehicle movement grows, the innovations emerging from our efforts will increasingly take on a greater role in our world.”
He said it is an exciting moment, not only because EV technologies are accelerating in their development but also because EV usage has taken off and is gaining a foothold in the automobile industry.
It is the second symposium that Korea has hosted since 1969.
Nine plenary speakers will deliver speeches with a total of 44 technical sessions on a range of issues including batteries and storage, charging infrastructure, fuel cell vehicles and public policies. Carmakers have competitively announced their future strategies to tap into the fast growing market.
An exhibition will also be held on the sidelines of the EVS, with some 150 companies from both home and abroad setting up more than 400 display booths for visitors, providing the latest technology on electric mobility innovations.