Kia Motors signs EV deal with GS Caltex

Kia Motors and GS Caltex signed a partnership agreement Tuesday to collaborate in the development and use of electric car charging infrastructure.

The two companies are developing an easy-payment system that enables users of electric vehicles (EV) from Kia Motors to automatically pay their charging fees at GS Caltex-operated charging stations as soon as they finish charging, without going through a separate payment process. The easy-payment system will be available for users who apply for the service and register a means of payment. The automaker said the two are preparing to offer the service in the first half of next year.

Kia Motors and GS Caltex are also working to introduce a specialized service package for Kia electric car users. The package will include charging, car washing and maintenance.

For more electric car marketing purposes, Kia said it plans to exhibit some of its models at the GS Caltex charging stations.

“We will make efforts to ramp up electric car infrastructure so that Kia Motors’ electric car drivers won’t have difficulty with charging,” a spokesperson from GS Caltex said. “We will run various partnership-based programs to expand the overall electric car ecosystem.”

Both companies have been striving to expand their electric car-related services.

In September, Kia Motors started a service in partnership with Emart and transportation infrastructure developer sTraffic so that Kia Motors’ electric car drivers can have priority using fast chargers installed at major Emart branches nationwide.

In May, GS Caltex inked a partnership with multiple companies, including LG Electronics and car sharing company GreenCar, to expand and upgrade charging infrastructure.

BY KIM JEE-HEE [kim.jeehee@joongang.co.kr]