LG Energy Solution has become the first South Korean company to receive national certification for battery swapping stations (BSS) and swappable battery packs for electric two-wheelers. The company obtained the Korean Standard (KS) certification from the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL), making it eligible for government subsidies under the Ministry of Environment’s electric bike supply initiative.
With this certification, LG Energy Solution aims to accelerate the adoption of electric bikes and expand the battery subscription service market. The Korean government is actively promoting battery-swapping infrastructure to boost the use of eco-friendly two-wheelers, and LG Energy Solution is set to benefit from these support policies.
With this certification, LG Energy Solution has met the prerequisites for the government-backed policy. It is expected to play a leading role in the growth of electric two-wheeled vehicles and the battery subscription service market. The company has been granted certification for several components, including electrical and mechanical specifications, communication protocols, performance, stability, and durability of exchangeable battery packs and battery exchange charging facilities.
Electric bikes have gained increasing attention as a sustainable alternative to combat air pollution and noise from the rising number of gasoline-powered bikes. This shift has been further driven by the expansion of the delivery culture during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Korean government is actively backing the growth of the electric bike market through various initiatives. The Ministry of Environment has set bold targets, including a significant increase in the number of electric bikes equipped with swappable batteries. In the past year, the number of these bikes more than doubled, reaching 3,429 units, and the nationwide count of charging stations grew to 1,872.
To further support the sector, the Ministry plans to distribute 20,000 electric bikes this year, with subsidies totaling 16 billion won ($11 million), and it will also help establish 500 charging stations through 5 billion won in funding.
LG Energy Solution operates about 440 battery exchange stations across South Korea through its service, “KURU.” The company aims to expand this network to major cities, including Busan, Daegu, and Gwangju, as well as areas in the metropolitan region. LG Energy Solution also focuses on managing the entire life cycle of batteries with its “B.It” solution, which aims to optimize battery performance and sustainability.
In addition to its certification, LG Energy Solution will collaborate with the Korea Automobile Research Institute and Kangwon National University on a national standard technology improvement project. This initiative aims to accelerate global standardization efforts, including working towards International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certifications.
