"Convenience Stores Transform into Charging Hubs 

 for Electric Motorcycles, Attracting Riders"

• Simple battery exchange system: Insert used battery and take out a new one
• Seven-Eleven (Convenience store) reports an average of 1,000 uses per month after three months of operation
• Utilizing the advantage of a dense store network, expecting to attract riders and increase related sales

Convenience stores are transforming into popular charging spots for electric motorcycles. As the government is pushing for the spread of battery swap electric two-wheelers (electric motorcycles), the convenience store industry is also rolling up its sleeves by introducing Battery Swap Stations (BSS) one after another. The convenience store industry plans to attract delivery riders using their dense store network and increase related sales.

According to the convenience store industry on the 12th, Seven-Eleven has joined hands with AIMS, a startup providing electric motorcycle battery sharing services, to expand the 'Nanu' electric motorcycle BSS. Currently, Seven-Eleven is pilot-operating AIMS' electric motorcycle BSS in over 50 stores in Seoul, Busan, and Mokpo.

The electric motorcycle battery exchange is done by removing the used battery, inserting it into the BSS, and installing another charged battery onto the motorcycle. Seven-Eleven plans to expand the installation stores to Gyeonggi-do, Daegu, and other regions this year, implementing electric motorcycle battery exchange services in a total of about 130 stores.

GS Retail has partnered with Kuru, an in-house independent corporation of LG Energy Solution. According to GS Retail, they are currently pilot-operating a BSS at one GS25 location in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. GS Retail plans to start full-scale installation from July and install it in 200 GS25 stores this year.

CU also entered BSS operation in cooperation with charging solution company EasyCharger in February this year. According to BGF Retail, CU is currently operating BSS at CU Myongji University Branch, Gogang Branch, Convenient Onsu Branch, and Sinlim Cafe Branch. CU plans to expand BSS focusing on Seoul and the metropolitan area after monitoring usage status.

Emart24, which started BSS service early, plans to increase the number of BSS operating stores to 100 by the end of this year. Previously, Emart24 introduced BSS in 18 stores in Seoul in September 2021 and has been gradually increasing the number of serviceable stores every year.

The reason why convenience stores are interested in electric motorcycle battery exchange stations is that they can attract electric motorcycle riders and lead to convenience store-related sales while participating in the government's policy of expanding electric motorcycles. According to Seven-Eleven, the number of uses exceeded an average of 1,000 per month during the three months of BSS operation.

Mr. Park (31), who delivers in the Gangnam area using an electric motorcycle, said, "It's efficient to be able to easily exchange batteries through the BSS installed in convenience stores. When I go to exchange batteries, I also buy cigarettes and drinks at the convenience store."

Currently, the main users of electric motorcycles are delivery riders, but it is expected that the user base will expand to the general public in the future as the government actively promotes the spread of battery swap electric motorcycles. According to the Ministry of Environment, the current cumulative supply of electric two-wheelers is 62,917 units. The supply target for this year is 40,000 units. In particular, when only the body of a battery swap electric motorcycle is purchased, a subsidy equivalent to 60% of an electric motorcycle including the battery can be received.

A convenience store industry official said, "We are actively participating in the government's eco-friendly electric motorcycle promotion policy and can attract delivery riders as convenience store customers (by introducing BSS service). We are looking forward to the expansion of electric motorcycle use not only for delivery riders but also for the general public in the future."