Free Electric Vehicle Inspections Expanded to Include Buses and Two-Wheelers This Year

Ministry Recommendation:
Battery and BMS Inspections Conducted by 34 Manufacturers

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on June 18 that it will expand the scope of free safety inspections for electric vehicles, which are conducted by vehicle manufacturers, to include electric buses and electric two-wheelers this year.

The free electric vehicle inspection is a voluntary measure implemented by manufacturers in accordance with recommendations from the Ministry. This initiative has been carried out annually since 2023. Last year, approximately 300,000 vehicles were inspected, and around 24,000 signs of abnormalities were detected. For this year’s free inspections, a total of 34 companies will participate, including 15 electric passenger car manufacturers, 6 electric bus manufacturers, and 13 electric two-wheeler manufacturers.

The Ministry stated that, as the supply of electric vehicles continues to increase, it plans to steadily expand the number of participating manufacturers and vehicle types for the free inspections. Most manufacturers have been providing free safety inspections since the beginning of this year. Hyundai Motor, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi, Stellantis, Jaguar Land Rover, SAP, and EM Korea are offering year-round, on-demand free safety inspections without a fixed inspection period.

An electric vehicle is charging at an electric car charging station in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The inspection schedule and locations are individually notified to electric vehicle users by each manufacturer, for example through mobile text messages. Users may also directly contact each manufacturer’s customer service center for further information. Reservations or walk-in visits to the nearest vehicle service center are possible.

The inspection focuses on areas particularly vulnerable in terms of safety, including the electric vehicle battery, the cooling system that lowers battery temperature, and various electrical components. The visual condition of the vehicle, such as possible impact or damage to the battery undercarriage, is also checked. Users can receive updates to the battery management system software—which monitors and controls battery voltage, current, and temperature—to the latest version, and also verify whether any recall actions on the inspected vehicle have been completed.

Park Junhyeong, Director General of Mobility and Motor Vehicles at the Ministry, stated, "The summer season places greater strain on electric vehicle systems due to high temperatures and humidity from heatwaves and rainfall. It is therefore necessary to promptly undergo safety inspections to address any vehicle abnormalities or risk factors in advance and enhance safety."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.