Provincial government turns telephone booths into battery-sharing stations for electric motorcycles

[Gettyimages Bank]

SEOUL -- In a country known for its high smartphone penetration rate, public telephone booths will be turned into battery-sharing stations for electric motorcycles in a provincial government project. Solar charging facilities and convenience facilities will be installed gradually to increase utilization.

South Chungcheong Province will work with South Korea's leading telecom company KT and its public phone arm, KT Linkus, to build a battery-sharing network aimed at accelerating the charging speed of electric motorcycles and improving their short travel distance.

The utilization rate of public phone booths has decreased in South Korea due to the supply of mobile phones. There are about 900 outdoor public phone booths in South Chungcheong Province, which would install 20 stations by the end of this year and 100 more in 2022.

If the project gains popularity, the provincial government aims to increase utilization by adding solar charging facilities and convenience facilities such as fine dust information lights and civil affair documents issuing machines. Other provincial governments may follow suit.

KT Linkus is already involved in a similar project in South Gyeongsang Province to set up a battery-sharing network for motorcycles for deliverymen who can quickly replace depleted battery packs at charging depots.

Lim Chang-won cwlim34@ajunews.com

Provincial government turns telephone booths into battery-sharing stations for electric motorcycles

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