(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jang Hana = Hyundai Motor Company[005380]Is expected to eventually replace all the batteries of the Kona electric vehicle (EV), which has been controversial over the recent fire.
According to industry sources on the 24th, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs is planning to announce the KONA EV recall policy on this afternoon.
[독자 송영훈 씨 제공, 재판매 및 DB 금지] [email protected]
The announcement on the day is expected to include the results of an investigation into the cause of the Kona EV fire.
It is reported that Hyundai Motor Company submitted a follow-up plan to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport earlier this week to replace the entire battery of the Kona EV in question.
As controversy arose over the effectiveness of the recall of Kona EV, it was interpreted as a measure to focus on resolving consumers’ vague anxiety about electric vehicles by replacing all batteries altogether.
The industry estimates that the recall could reach 25,000 Kona units manufactured and sold in Korea from September 2017 to March last year, and about 30,000 vehicles manufactured since April last year.
Since its launch in 2018, KONA EV is reported to have had a total of 15 fires, including 11 domestic and 4 overseas.
Hyundai Motor Company recalled 77,000 Kona EVs manufactured from September 2017 to March last year from around the world as the Kona EV fires followed in October last year.
The recall proceeded by updating the battery management system (BMS) and immediately replacing the battery if any signs of abnormality in the battery such as excessive cell-to-cell voltage deviation or sudden temperature change were found.
However, consumers complained about Hyundai Motor’s recall policy and filed a class action lawsuit.
Jang Jae-hoon, president of Hyundai Motor Company, said at a media conference held before the online release of the first exclusive electric vehicle, the Ioniq 5, the day before, “I sincerely apologize once again for causing inconvenience and concern to customers due to the recent Kona EV fire issue.”
The industry is also drawing attention to the sharing of the recall cost with the battery manufacturer LG Energy Solutions. Considering the battery replacement cost of about 20 million won per unit, it is expected to cost more than 1 trillion won if the entire battery system of Kona EV is replaced.
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2021/02/24 10:36 sent