Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
Hyundai Glovis offers customized shipping by sea for EVs
A Hyundai Glovis PCTC (Pure car, truck carrier) vessel out at sea / Courtesy of Hyundai Glovis
By Kim Hyun-bin
By Kim Hyun-bin
To meet the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market, Hyundai Glovis is customizing its marine transportation business.
Hyundai Glovis is the world's first logistics company to produce an EV manual for shipping by sea that integrates a method of handling the loading-shipping-unloading process of EVs. EVs have traits that require customized EV handling solutions different from conventional internal combustion vehicles, the company said.
First of all, EVs usually have wide battery cells installed at the base of the vehicle, requiring more attention than ordinary vehicles.
Thus, Hyundai Glovis provides customized management services and marks “EV” on the shipping order to better distinguish them from vehicles that use combustible fuel sources.
The company has also implemented a sharing system with shippers that automatically informs them of the status of the EVs within the ship, including their condition and the state of charge of their battery, among others.
This shared information will be utilized to ensure safe loading and unloading procedures. Once loaded on the ship, EVs are constantly checked throughout the duration of the route, including their battery condition and the vehicles exterior.
Hyundai Glovis has also produced an EV emergency manual and conducted mandatory emergency training.
"We set up new EV-specialized services to better meet customers' needs in the ever-changing trends of the automobile industry," Hyundai Glovis official said.
Recently, Hyundai Glovis signed an MOU with the Korean Register of Shipping to improve EV carrier shipping by adding specific shipping handling guidelines for EVs, as well as installing customized safety equipment on newly built vessels.
Hyundai Glovis is the leading logistics company in Korea, having transported 180,000 EVs last year, which the company estimates to take up 40 percent of EV ocean transportation globally.
The EV market is expected to grow on average 29 percent annually for the next 10 years, with over 31.1 million units by 2030. The recent customized measures are part of Hyundai Glovis' preparations for the rapidly growing market, the company said.