Water to Add 123 EV Chargers Across 23 Highway Sites in South Korea
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South Korean renewable energy developer Brite Energy Partners will open 23 ultra-fast electric vehicle charging stations across the country’s national highway network through its charging brand, Water. The expansion installs 123 high-output chargers at highway service plazas across Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Gangwon, and Gyeongsang provinces, with the initial site opening ahead of a scheduled October launch.
Ultra-fast 400 kW hardware forms the backbone of the rollout, representing 62 of the planned plugs alongside 46 units rated at 200 kW and 15 units at 100 kW. The installation targets high-voltage vehicle architectures capable of drawing top-tier power rates during short rest stops.
Hardware Mix and Connector Strategy
Every stall across the 23 locations provides both DC Combo and North American Charging Standard (NACS) plugs. Integrating NACS connectors allows Tesla drivers to draw between 120 kW and 200 kW directly without third-party adapters. Stations with 400 kW units cater directly to 800-volt battery architectures, cutting session lengths during high-traffic travel periods.
Operations began ahead of schedule at the Cheongju service plaza on the Seoul-bound Gyeongbu Expressway. The site operates as South Korea’s first highway rest stop equipped with 400 kW equipment, pairing two ultra-fast units with two 200 kW chargers.
Tariffs and Rest Area Expansion
Registered members receive a promotional electricity rate of 294 won per kilowatt-hour for 12 months following each station’s commission date. That pricing undercuts the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment’s standard roaming tariff for chargers above 200 kW by roughly 100 won per kilowatt-hour.
“Every stall across the 23 locations provides both DC Combo and North American Charging Standard (NACS) plugs.”
Competition among charging point operators in South Korea centers increasingly on access to prime highway concession locations managed by the state turnpike operator. By securing sites through the Korea Expressway Corporation, Water captures high-turnover dwell traffic that commercial urban charging hubs struggle to match.
“Highway rest areas are essentially the only locations where charging speed directly impacts a driver’s time, which is why we chose to participate in the Korea Expressway Corporation’s infrastructure expansion project by deploying the highest-output chargers available,” said Yoo Dae-won, Head of the Electric Vehicle Charging Business Unit (Water) at Bright Energy Partners.
Network Footprint Across South Korea
Placing multi-standard ultra-fast plugs on key intercity routes alters route planning for long-distance fleet operators and passenger drivers alike. The dual-cable design shields the network against connector obsolescence as more international automakers adopt NACS standards alongside existing Combined Charging System protocols.
Capital intensity remains the primary pressure point for independent charge point operators across the region. Grid connection costs and peak-demand utility charges on 400 kW hardware test profitability, requiring sustained throughput and high utilization rates to offset promotional retail tariffs.
Highway Concessions and Long-Distance Transit
The turnpike program expands on earlier provincial charging initiatives rolled out across South Korea’s secondary roads over recent fiscal periods. State tenders have shifted focus from ubiquitous low-power neighborhood chargers to concentrated high-capacity rest stops along major freight and commuter corridors.
Completing the rollout brings Water’s total highway footprint to 397 chargers distributed across 73 rest areas nationwide. Commissioning schedules for the remaining 22 sites run through the coming quarters across the four targeted provinces.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the expected timeline for all 23 new charging stations to open?
What is the expected timeline for all 23 new charging stations to open?
The initial site opened ahead of a scheduled October launch. Commissioning schedules for the remaining 22 sites will run through the coming quarters across the four targeted provinces. The full rollout should be complete by then.
Q.How will Water's pricing compare to the standard national tariff for charging?
How will Water's pricing compare to the standard national tariff for charging?
Registered members will receive a promotional rate of 294 won per kilowatt-hour for 12 months. This pricing undercuts the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment’s standard roaming tariff for chargers above 200 kW by roughly 100 won per kilowatt-hour.
Q.Why did Water choose to install ultra-fast chargers at highway rest stops?
Why did Water choose to install ultra-fast chargers at highway rest stops?
Highway rest areas are key locations where charging speed directly impacts a driver’s time, according to Yoo Dae-won. This makes deploying the highest-output chargers available essential for their participation in the infrastructure expansion project.
Q.What is Water's total charging network footprint on South Korea's highways after this expansion?
What is Water's total charging network footprint on South Korea's highways after this expansion?
Completing this rollout will bring Water’s total highway footprint to 397 chargers. These chargers will be distributed across 73 rest areas nationwide, significantly expanding their presence on key routes.
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