Hamyang rest stop tops list at 15.6 daily charges per unit
Saturday afternoons see heaviest use
Network to expand to 269 chargers at 56 rest stops by 2027
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure operator Chaevi said Tuesday that its fast chargers at highway rest stops recorded a daily average of up to eight times more charges per unit than regular fast-charging stations.
The analysis drew on operational data from 117 fast chargers that began full operation in July at 24 Korea Expressway Corporation rest stops.
According to Chaevi, the Hamyang rest stop (toward Daejeon) posted the highest daily average charges per unit at 15.6. It was followed by Hamyang (toward Tongyeong) at 14.9, Nongong (toward Daegu) at 13.0, Geochang (toward Gwangju) at 12.6, and Chilseo (toward Yangpyeong) at 11.4. The average for regular fast-charging stations stands at 1.9, meaning highway rest-stop chargers recorded roughly 3.7 times that figure.
Chaevi said the Hamyang rest stop benefits from convenient access on both directions of the Tongyeong-Daejeon Expressway. The company also attributed the concentrated charging demand to the timing of the launch, which coincided with the summer vacation season and the chuseok holiday period.
The Chilgok rest stop (toward Busan) logged the highest single-day charging record among all highway rest-stop fast chargers and also led in cumulative usage at 9,914 charges. On average, about 85 vehicles used the station each day, with a charge occurring roughly every 17 minutes. Usage peaked on Saturdays and at 3 p.m.
Chaevi noted that new charging stations typically require several months to a year to become established as drivers learn of them and incorporate them into regular travel routes, but these stations showed high utilization from the outset. The company added that the strong usage rates are expected to translate into improved charging service sales and profitability.
Chaevi currently operates 117 fast chargers at 24 rest stops nationwide under the "2025 Highway Rest Stop EV Charging Station Construction Project (Unit 3)," with plans to add 21 more chargers at three additional locations by year-end. In August, the company was selected as the preferred negotiating partner for the Korea Expressway Corporation's "2026 Highway Rest Stop EV Charging Station Construction Project (Unit 2)," which will bring its total network to 269 chargers at 56 rest stops nationwide by 2027. Chaevi plans to expand its highway charging network — currently centered on the Yeongnam and Honam regions — into the Greater Seoul area, Gangwon Province, the Chungcheong provinces and North Jeolla Province.
"As EV adoption grows and charging demand continues to rise, we expect utilization per charger and overall charging performance to consistently improve," Chaevi Chief Executive Choi Young-hoon said. "Chaevi will strengthen data analysis to build and operate a reliable charging infrastructure, while proactively responding to shifts in charging demand to enhance operational efficiency and user convenience."
eyre@heraldcorp.com
