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| Nissan's electric car Leaf/ Source from Nissan Korea |
AsiaToday reporter Choi Sung-rok = As electric car makers are speeding up to launch their electric vehicles in the domestic market, the government and EV battery makers are quickening their pace as well. The reason for their active technology development is that electric vehicles will be pouring out to the market until 2016.
According to the industry on the 17th, Nissan has decided to launch its electric car 'Leaf' in November. Being the world's top-selling electric car, Nissan Leaf has been launched in Japan and U.S market back in December 2010. It will be priced between 50 million to 55 million won. Consumers can purchase the car between 29 to 32 million won if they receive subsidies from the government and local government.
As Nissan decided to launch Leaf, which has proven its marketability in the global market, the competition among electric cars will also begin in the domestic market.
Currently, there are three models of electric cars launched in the domestic market including Kia's Ray EV, GM Korea's Spark EV, and Renault Samsung's SM3 Z.E.. BMW will be launching i3 in May, and Volkswagen is expected to launch e-Golf in the second of this year along with Leaf. Besides, Kia's Soul EV will be launched next month as one of the rising stars in the EV market.
As electric cars are being launched one after another in the domestic market, electric vehicle battery suppliers are also in a hurry.
As electric vehicle battery is the key component that accounts for roughly 60 percent of an EV's price tag, the electric car makers are considering which battery maker they should work with. SK Innovation have already decided to supply batteries for the Ray EV and Soul EV, LG Chem for Spark EV and SM3 Z.E., and Samsung SDI for i3.
However, there would be even more car brands to select battery suppliers in the future. It's because those car makers who haven't showed any interest in electric cars are showing strong willingness to purchase batteries and they are leading price competition.
An official of a battery manufacturer said, "Recently, those car makers who didn't have EV line up are showing their willingness to purchase battery and are trying to lower the price. Those car makers that haven't launched any electric cars before are planning to launch electric vehicles within 2 or 3 years. And the cooperation between car makers and battery suppliers are expected to speed up as well."
The government is also making an effort.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will draw up the 'Comprehensive plan to vitalize electric vehicles" by March to develop high-tech low-cost electric vehicle batteries.
An official said, "If conglomerates with competitive power such as Samsung SDI, LG Chem, and SK Innovation decide to work with SMEs for technology development, then the competitiveness of domestic companies' EV batteries will be significantly upgraded."
