▲ IEVE 2015 opened at the ICC Jeju on Friday, March 6, showcasing the latest EV tech and gadgets. Photo by The Jeju Weekly

This article was written as part of an e-newsletter series to promote IEVE 2015. To receive the e-newsletter please email ymijin0902@gmail.com.

Jae-Chan Park, secretary general of the Organizing Committee, told The Jeju Weekly last month that Jeju’s EVs were “the real thing” as the island became a “beacon within Asia,” and the rhetoric at the IEVE 2015 Opening Ceremony on Friday, March 6, reflected such confidence.

Running until Sunday, March 15, at the ICC Jeju, 80,000 visitors are projected over the 10 days, drawn by the innovative EV technologies on show and the popular EV lottery, with 1,500 subsidized vehicles up for grabs.

Jeju governor Won Hee-ryong strongly supports the EV industry, pledging to make the island an EV “special zone,” and as the curtain was raised he told the assembled press, industry insiders and enthusiasts that now things need to be taken to “the next level.”

▲ IEVE 2015 opened at the ICC Jeju on Friday, March 6, showcasing the latest EV tech and gadgets. Photo by The Jeju Weekly

“As smart phones have changed all of our lives, so EVs will change them in the future ... but we need to be more aggressive ... and send a stronger message out,” said Won.

Among the speakers was also Detroit Electric CEO Albert Lam, a respected automotive and tech veteran. Lam has held executive and directorial positions at Lotus Group International, Apple Computers and Sun Microsystems and is also an experienced engineer in the field.

Lam congratulated Jeju on its “bold step” toward a carbon-free future, and painted a picture of smart technologies providing mobility solutions throughout our lives, emphasizing that EVs cannot be viewed “as a stand-alone element” and must be part of sweeping infrastructure support.

▲ IEVE 2015 opened at the ICC Jeju on Friday, March 6, showcasing the latest EV tech and gadgets. Photo by The Jeju Weekly

“The future of e-mobility is a whole sustainable lifecycle,” said Lam.

Lam shared his vision of world where car-sharing schemes are an everyday part of life just as much as bike sharing is in cities such as London and New York today.

“Today you have a girlfriend you want to take on a journey, you might choose a sports car. Tomorrow you have family, you might want to use the SUV,” Lam said.

Smart wristbands will not only open the rent-by-the-minute cars on the street, but also immediately adjust the seats and load up our favorite music playlists, all according to your needs, downloaded “from the cloud.”

“This is personalization. You know it can be done,” he said.

▲ IEVE 2015 opened at the ICC Jeju on Friday, March 6, showcasing the latest EV tech and gadgets. Photo by The Jeju Weekly

Lam was followed by Moon Kook Hyun, CEO of both Hansoll and New Paradigm Institute. Moon who agreed that “a sharing economy is what we should be talking about.”

A long-time environmental activist and entrepreneur, Moon reminded the audience of the danger climate change represents to the planet and stressed the invaluable role of China as the biggest market and producer in the years ahead.

“We don’t have much time, so we must be more determined ... We can make a swifter change by working together to open up this new era,” he said.

▲ IEVE 2015 opened at the ICC Jeju on Friday, March 6, showcasing the latest EV tech and gadgets. Photo by The Jeju Weekly

Following the ceremony the VIPs were given a tour of the exhibition, which had all the vehicles, gadgets and tech that is sure to attract the Jeju public over the weekend, as well as the test drives, sightseeing and the popular lottery draw.

For those in the trade, Monday might prove even more exciting as the conference opens, bringing together business people, government and researchers for a week of lectures, conferences and discussions.

For more information visit ieveexpo.org