Charging ahead: Discount chain stocks electric car
Zhidou's electric car D2 is available at Emart's M-Lounge. / Yonhap
By Ko Dong-hwan
Electric cars have hit the shelves at the nation’s major discount chain.
Emart is selling the D2 by China’s Zhidou at selective branches of its M-Lounge, a smart-mobility store.
The nation’s biggest discount chain operator introduced the car at its Yeongdeungpo branch in Seoul in March 2017. It has expanded sales to six additional branches nationwide, including Busan, Daegu and Gwangju, the company said Tuesday.
The D2 carries two people and has a maximum range of 150 kilometers on a single charge that takes six hours.
The car passed its quality certification in December. Its price is expected to range between 13 million ($12,200) and 14 million won, given government subsidies.
M-Lounge’s 2017 sales were 2 billion won, twice that of the previous year. It also sells electric bicycles, airwheels and electric kickboards.
Demand for electric vehicles is expected to rise in South Korea. Revised laws that come into effect in March will allow electric bicycles on bike paths, encouraging more people aged 13 or older to take to two wheels.