Gwangmyeong City and Kia Introduce Electric Vehicle Sharing Service in Gwangmyeong Station District

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Yu Je-sung] Gwangmyeong City is partnering with Kia to operate an electric vehicle sharing service in the Gwangmyeong Station district.

The city signed a ‘Business Agreement for Electric Vehicle-Based Community Car-Sharing Promotion’ with Kia on the morning of the 17th at the city hall conference room.

This agreement was pursued after the city was selected in last year's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport ‘Small but Strong Smart City Development Project’ competition, and was established to alleviate traffic congestion in the Gwangmyeong Station district area and reduce carbon emissions by expanding eco-friendly transportation.

According to the agreement, Kia will supply and operate 10 shared electric vehicles on the 6th basement level of ‘Gwangmyeong Station U Planet’ (512-3 Iljik-dong) in Iljik-dong, and the city will provide administrative and financial support.

Of the 10 vehicles, 5 are scheduled to operate by the end of this month, with plans to add 5 more vehicles in early next year.

The shared electric vehicles can be used not only by businesses in the Gwangmyeong Station district but also by residents. During weekday business hours (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), they are available for business use by companies, and outside business hours on weekdays and on weekends, residents can use them freely.

In particular, all vehicles introduced in this service are electric vehicles (EV), which are expected to reduce the use of internal combustion engine vehicles while also delivering practical carbon emission reduction effects such as improved air quality and creation of a pleasant living environment.

Users can install the ‘Kia Biz’ app on their smartphones, sign up as members, and then make reservations and use the vehicles.

Mayor Park Seung-won said, "This agreement will become a representative model of eco-friendly transportation services that both businesses and residents can experience," and added, "We will continue to expand various eco-friendly transportation services that allow residents to move conveniently and comfortably."