LG Elec builds EV chargers safety net for fire prevention

LG Electronics Inc. equipped its slow electric vehicle (EV) chargers with dual overcharge prevention technology to alleviate customer concerns and accelerate its EV charger business in South Korea.

The company said on Monday that it applied smart control technology and a power cut-off after charging completion feature to its 7-kilowatt (kW) slow chargers released domestically, establishing a double safety net to prevent fires during charging.

The smart control system works by charging information from the EV battery and transmitting it to the control system, which sends a charge control command to stop charging and prevent overcharging.

A power line communication (PLC) modem is built into the charger and the EV's communication controller (EVCC) communicates in real-time through the charging cable, monitoring accurate charging information.

LG's smart control technology has obtained certification for both the standard communication protocol between EVs and chargers (ISO15118 VAS) and the standard protocol between chargers and control systems (OCPP).

This satisfies the Ministry of Environment's slow charger installation subsidy requirements and allows for future expansion into overseas models.

The power cut-off after charging completion technology ensures prevention even if the EV's communication system fails to relay battery charging information, using the charger's own algorithm to stop charging after detecting no significant power usage for over 30 minutes.

LG Electronics also ensures customer safety by adhering to the EU's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) standards and testing the chargers with real EVs at its EV charger testing facility in Pyeongtaek's LG Digital Park.

Write to Jeong-Soo Hwang at hjs@hankyung.com