This week on Jeju: A to Z, Todd Thacker looks at local and national efforts to reduce our collective carbon footprint. An ongoing project by the province is set to replace every gas-based vehicle with an electric model by 2030... a major step towards energy independence.

Last month Jeju was paralyzed by an unusual cold-snap. It left many wondering if this sort of weather might become more common due to global climate change.

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‘All Jeju vehicles to be electric by 2030’

This is undoubtedly a concern for everyone. To this end, Jeju is doing its part to lessen its carbon footprint. One ambitious plan is setting out to replace all of the island’s vehicles -- including the large fleet of tourist rental cars -- with electric models by 2030.

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‘Wind, solar, tides to make Jeju a net energy producer’

The ultimate goal is for Jeju to eventually become carbon-free, and in fact be a net *producer* of renewable energy from the island’s abundant wind, solar and tidal sources. Jeju is also small enough that most destinations are well within the single-charge range of today’s electric vehicles.

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Low-cost charging stations, parking for EVs

For the last few years the province has been ramping up investments in infrastructure, such as installing EV charging stations at public offices and a wide range of tourist destinations. It also provides parking fee reductions and exclusive spots for the electric vehicles in public lots.

EVs are generally more expensive than traditional cars, and so the government has put forward significant subsidies and tax breaks for consumers. In some cases islanders can be eligible for tens of millions of won in subsidies for their zero-emission cars.

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More models, numbers of EVs on Jeju roads

Domestic and foreign automakers are also jumping into the fray, offering an ever-expanding range of clean, quiet vehicles which are appearing more on Jeju’s streets and highways everyday. In fact, currently Jeju has the nation’s highest density of electric vehicles in operation.

Beyond Jeju’s shores, too, Seoul has recognized that global oil prices are volatile and carbon-free technologies are the best way to ensure Korea’s energy independence. To that end, it has supported a number of testbed projects around the nation. Of those, Jeju is the crown jewel.

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Todd Thacker

Experts anticipate that by 2030 Jeju will have about 370,000 vehicles on the roads. The province aims to have the EV ratio at 30 percent by 2020 and 100 percent by the end of the 2 trillion won project. Time will tell, but at this point, any dent in the island’s carbon footprint is welcome news to all.

Todd Thacker KCTV