[Consumerwide_ HueSoung, Jun Reporter / Yohan, Bok Reporter] The Korean representative eco-friendly car exhibition, 'EV Trend Korea 2023 has opened on 15th. On the day of  10:20am, along with the opening event, the second EV Awards 2023 was held.   

EV Trend Korea is a domestic representative environment-friendly car exhibition offered aiming at EV culture-popularization and expansion of the eco-friendly electric car. In that exhibition one can explore global and domestic electric car trends including experimental programs, purchase information, charge solution service and charge appliances, and E-mobility. This event could be an eco-friendly car purchase guide for consumption-value-based consumers who are concerned about the environment.

On that day, Geum Hanseung, the chief of the climate carbon policy (ministry of environment)​ said, "2018, when the EV Trend Korea had just started, there were about 55000 electric cars(accumulation) in Korea, which probably was about 0.2% of the distribution rate. Since then, 5 years have passed. Now 403000 electric cars are distributed in Korea till 2022. In particular, there have been notable achievements. 163000 electric cars were newly registered among 1.7million cars last year, which is close to 10%.

Distribution of electric cars connects to air pollution reduction. Most of all, it's an important method for accomplishing  CO2 neutralization. The Korean government is trying in various ways to distribute 4500000 environment-friendly cars by 2030, and ultimately reduce emissions down to 37% in the transportation sector, including vehicles.

Because of this, the Korean government has increased the 30% subsidy for electric vehicles this year, which applies to 268000 vehicles. Including driving distance, depending on the major performance of the vehicle, there is a certain gap in granting subsidies. We are also inducing advanced technical development in the electric car industry by granting more subsidies to the electric car with high density batteries.

Considering the safety and convenience of electric car users, the subsidy differs according to AS management capacity or the manufacturer and electric car charge infra expansion preferences. We are going to extend our subsidies on electric car chargers by installing over 60000 standard electric car chargers in residential areas, incl. apartments, and 2000 rapid chargers at the expressway service area and petrol station.

It is a new assignment to fulfill Korean citizen's needs, hoping to ride in electric vehicles with more stability and better performance while exploring various places at speed. We won't be able to find the answer on our own but with all of you here."

During the opening event, the second EV Awards 2023 was held together. EV Awards 2023 foreman of the jury, the professor of Kukmin univ, Joyongseok, said, "EVE awards 2023 is the only one electric vehicle specialized award in Korea, which award cooperates with vehicle field experts and professors, and consumers.

The evaluation was made through 8 experts, who involved vehicle field professors and lawyers, the chief officer of the Korea electric car association, the chief officer of Korea electric car users, who took 70% portion of the evaluation, and the EV Trend Korea office for the rest of 30%. This evaluation was carried out based on the online EV preference surveys between 15th and 28th. This survey contained 2172 consumers' participation.

We chose one representative vehicle for each branded model from electric vehicles released in the domestic market between Feb 2022 and Jan 2023.

A total of 8 models were chosen. These are: Hyundai Ioniq6, Kia EV6 GT, Volvo C40 recharge, BMW I4, Audi Q4 e-Tron, Porsche Taycan GPS, Volkswagen ID.4 , Fuso E2008 SUV.

Including the design performance, charging system, environment-friendly element, driver's convenience and platform usage, electrification vision and aims, sustainability solution, price and marketing, 10 elements are evaluated. All the evaluated models were electric cars with great advantages, which gives greater insight into future electric car models."

On the day of the awards, the Hyundai Ioniq6 took 2nd place, which awards include 'electric car of the year' and 'Consumer vote-car of the year'. Considering the 'electric car of the year-Consumer vote' is significant because the vote exclusively depends on the consumer vote. Ioniq6 won 44% from the consumer preference survey on electric vehicles, which was operated by the EV Trend Korea office and proceeded on 2172 consumers.

Professor Joyongseok said, "Hyundai Ioniq6, which won the electric vehicle of the year, was evaluated as 'a fairy pitt-electric vehicle', equipped with a perfect balance, which includes innovative design, practicality, and space availability. In particular, our electric vehicle is seen as sensational by being equipped with advanced in technique and infra, which other brands may wish to have."

Kia EV6 GT was chosen as the electric vehicle innovation of the year. The newly built 'electric charger' brand of the year was made by Chaevi.

SK Rentacar won the KEV100 environment-friendly transition excellent business passenger sector while LOTTE CONFECTIONERY CO.,LTD won the KEV100 environment-friendly transition excellent business commercial sector this year. Including EV Trend Korea 2023 is operated between 15th(opening) and 17th for 3days. ▲Global car manufacturing business, Hyundai car and Kia, commercial car Volvo Trucks, ▲small mobility (genstation, gentrophy)(mobility platform), ▲charger and infra (CHAEVI, SKeleclink, Moderntec, SKsignet, JAC) brands, total 95 businesses, 441 boothes, which is 1.5 times increased scale from last year, are participating.

EV Trend Korea 2023 is held for three days between 15th and 17th.