LG Uplus, Hanwha unveil ceiling-mounted EV charging system

South Korea's LG Uplus Corp. and Hanwha Corporation/E&C, a construction unit of Hanwha Corp., announced on Monday that the development of their innovative electric vehicle (EV) charging system, Forena EV Air Station, specifically tailored to the domestic living environments in South Korea.

This ceiling-mounted charging system represents a significant breakthrough in addressing parking space shortages and operational challenges associated with traditional EV charging stations.

In December last year, the two companies signed a business partnership agreement for the development of the mobile multiple charger (MMC).

After eight months of development and integration processes, the Forena EV Air Station was officially introduced, combining the charging system with shared chargers.

This next-generation EV charging system enables connectors to descend from the ceiling, allowing simultaneous charging of up to three vehicles with a single charger.

The equipment and cables are mounted on the ceiling, thus eliminating the need for additional floor installation space. Once the charging is complete, cables are retracted back through a motor.

Additionally, the charging cables feature sensors that trigger an alarm and halt motion if a weight exceeding a certain level is detected while retracting.

LG Uplus and Hanwha Corporation/E&C have filed for three technical and design patents for this newly developed ceiling-type EV charging system.

The companies have also completed electromagnetic compatibility certification and plan to implement this pioneering technology in the forthcoming Hanwha Forena apartment complexes.

Write to Ju-Hyun Lee at 2juhyun@hankyung.com