- On the 25th, SK rent-a-car’s proclamation ceremony for EV Park (tentative name) creation attended by people from the local government, KEPCO and car makers
- Its Jeju branch introduced 3,000 EVs, a comprehensive charging facility for both human and vehicles to be established at its own site in Seogwipo
- GHGs mitigation through the operation of EVs, better ESG performance through the adoption of environmentally friendly construction methods
- “As EV-centered Mobility Rental Company, we continue to be at the forefront in creating an ecosystem for eco-friendly future”

SK rent-a-car (CEO: Hwang Il-moon) has unveiled its concrete blue print for the plan for a EV-exclusive complex, which will be the largest in size and established in Jeju by 2025. It marked its first step toward the foundation of a new mobility ecosystem.

The company said on the 27th that it threw a declaration ceremony on the 25th at its Jeju branch for the establishment of ‘SK rent-a-car EV Park’ (tentative name), which will be the largest complex dedicated to EV in Korea under the motto of ‘Your Partner from Beginning to End on Your Journey in Jeju’. Many people attended the event including SK rent-a-car’s CEO, Hwang Il-moon, and partners from the Jeju Provincial Government, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, Tesla Korea, and SK innovation. They will join efforts to lay the foundation for future EVs as well as to build facilities.

The company underscored that it would deliver unique experiences leveraging EVs to customers in Jeju and ramp up its efforts for full-fledged ESG. In addition to the creation of EV-exclusive rental center of 23,801 square meters at Jeju branch, it unveiled its another plan to forge a space where drivers can rest and charge their EV rentals at its own site in Seogwipo.

The CEO of the company said, “in the face of the remarkable rise of the EV market, this park creation is part of our efforts to lead the domestic EV market and to put ESG management into action in a practical manner.” And he added, “as a car rental company accompanying you from beginning to end on your journey, we will make sure that EV-exclusive complex delivers future value and customer satisfaction.”

■ Customers to experience driving, charging, and relaxing, a new mobility life to permeate your trip to Jeju

SK rent-a-car is going to invest KRW 40.6 billion in building an EV-exclusive rental center and complex cultural space. Accordingly, it plans to convert its all 3,000 internal combustion engine vehicles into EVs by 2025.

SK rent-a-car’s Jeju branch is going to transform into an EV-exclusive rental center representing Korea. To this end, the company signed a business agreement with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) in April on the establishment of a charging facility with a capacity of 7,200kW, large enough to charge 3,000 units. About 1,300,000 populations are expected to rent vehicles of the company for their trip to Jeju. The rental center boasts an expansive area of over 23,800 square meters as well as good access. It takes only three minutes to get there from Jeju International Airport by shuttle bus. In addition, a pick-up tower will be installed. The tower would be a four-story building and 8,264 square meters in gross area, which is large enough to provide parking spaces for around 200 units. With this pickup tower, customers would enjoy a higher level of convenience and more satisfactory services.

Along with this, the company has another plan to create a cultural complex at its own site of 3,305 square meters. The complex would be a place where people can charge their vehicles, and at the same time take a rest. In order to put the plan into practice, the discussion is underway with ‘Terra Rosa’, a chain of coffeehouses, and KEPCO on the joint development. And it is joined by the working group that was in charge of designing and building ‘GILDONG CHEOOM’ unveiled by SK networks, the parent company of SK rent-a-car. They would contribute to establishing the complex as a place for charging and at the same time, relaxation.

An SK rent-a-car official said, “given the location of the Seogwipo’s site adjacent to Jungmun Tourist Complex, we expect many tourists and local people to come.” And he added, “with the purpose of improving convenience in terms of EV charging, we plan to make this complex available to everyone including drivers who rent EVs from other rental companies and local residents who own their EVs. Charging facilities will be open all year around given its attribute as a tourist spot.

■ GHG mitigation with a shift towards EVs, introduction of eco-friendly construction method, better ESG management performance in terms of the environment

SK rent-a-car’s EV Park is also a representation of ESG management that puts eco-friendliness at its heart.

The SK rent-a-car’s adoption of 3,000 units of EVs since 2025 in Jeju is forecasted to reduce GHG emissions by 10,000 tons, equivalent to planting 1,500,000 pine trees. Besides, we expect some environmental improvement. It will curtail air pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, etc.), the main culprit of ozone depletion, smog and deforestation, by about 40 tons. And 44,000 liters of waste oil will not be generated.

The company also plans to adopt environmentally friendly construction techniques when it builds new facilities for the EV-exclusive rental center. In detail, the company will have in place ‘Building Integrated Photovoltaic System’ in four buildings including the pick-up tower, vehicle drop-off terminal, maintenance building, and office building so that they can generate electricity on their own. Along with this, the company continues to find ways of introducing other eco-friendly methods including the plan to pave all roads in the complex with eco-friendly asphalt.

Through these efforts, SK rent-a-car will join the efforts to make ‘Jeju Carbon Free Island (CFI) 2030’, and at the same time, lend support to SK Group committed to enhancing ESG management performance.

An SK rent-a-car affiliate said, “we expect the creation of EV Park to contribute to the government’s Green New Deal plan as well as to serve as a trigger for more people to choose EVs.” And he added that the company would lead the market and take the initiative in creating an eco-friendly ecosystem, living up to our reputation as ‘EV-centered Mobility Rental Company’.

During the event, the company complied with the COVID-19 preventive measures such as having space between seats, wearing a mask, and checking body temperature. In addition, it run promotions to offer SK pinx’s gift certificates of KRW 100,000 and free short-term rental for 3 days and 2 nights to customers who made their first reservations for three models; Hyundai IONIC5, Kia Niro EV, and Tesla Model 3.

In commemoration of the declaration ceremony, the company will run ‘Charge More Receive More’ promotion which offers vouchers for four-month free charging to new long-term rental customers for three EV models, Hyundai IONIC5, Kia Niro EV, and Renault ZOE. Customers who sign a deal during the event, can use EV fast chargers operated by KEPCO and the Ministry of Environment for four months after they pick up vehicles using ‘EV All in One charging card’ provided by SK rent-a-car.

[Photo 1] SK rent-a-car’s CEO, Hwang Il-moon proclaiming the creation of EV Park

[Photo 2] SK rent-a-car’s declaration ceremony EV Park creation

From left, Tesla Korea CEO, Kim Gyeong-ho, Jeju Regional Director of Hyundai Motors, Park Sang-kyu, Planning and Management Head of Jeju branch of KEPCO, Kim Gi-hyong, Business Director of SK networks and non-executive director of SK rent-a-car, Choi Seong-hwan, Chairman of SK rent-a-car’s BOD, Park Hae-sik, Sales Division Head of Kia, Lee Han-eung, and Low Carbon Policy Manager of Jeju Provincial Government, Kim Mi-young

[Photo 3] Aerial view of SK rent-a-car’s EV Park

※ SK rent-a-car’s EV-related key progress in 2000-2021
June 2020
▶ Collaborated with KEPCO for the development of new services for EVs
October 2020
▶ Launched ‘EV All in One’, the first unlimited EV charging deal in the field + Invested in Softberry
▶ Signed an MOU with SK telecom to work on GHG mitigation demonstration project using EVs
February 2021
▶ Issued green bonds for the first time since its foundation with the aim of the reinforcement of eco-friendly vehicle rental business
March 2021
▶ Declared to be EV-centered Mobility Rental Company
▶ Joined KE-100 driven by the Ministry of Environment
April 2021
▶ Made a business agreement with KEPCO on the construction of EV-exclusive complex in Jeju, the largest in size in Korea
▶ Joined hands with SK innovation for EV battery solution development
June 2021
▶ Decided to invest KRW 40.6 billion in building an EV-exclusive complex in Jeju
▶ Proclamation ceremony for SK rent-a-car’s EV Park (tentative name)