Four big Japanese companies – Mitsubishi, Subaru, Nissan and Tepco (Tokyo Electric Power) – are planning to establish a “Rapid Charger Infrastructure Promotion Council”.

So far Mitsubishi, Subaru and Nissan have each one separately in cooperation with Tepco developed rapid chargers with different specifications. Tepco had already announced in 2008 its plans to install rapid recharge terminals in Tokyo, beginning with around 200 recharge points in 2009 and upping the number to over 1000 in 2010. The rapid charger terminals installed in 2008 have separate high speed charge ports to meet the needs of different manufacturers, allowing 80% battery charge in 10-15 minutes. To achieve a wide spread use of electric vehicles, however, it is essential to standardise the specifications for rapid chargers and to create common charger ports for all electric vehicles (EVs).

The three car manufacturers have therefore, together with Tepco, announced that they will form a “Rapid Charger Infrastructure Promotion Council” (provisional name) in order to promote industry standardisation and further market penetration of electric vehicles. This alliance will be open to other companies in the field of electric vehicle manufacturing and battery technology and service who want to contribute with their expertise, technology and know-how to the promotion of EVs in the Japanese market.

Further EV infrastructure initiatives

In the same vein, Nippon Oil Corp. (oil distributor), NEC Corp. (electronic manufacturer) and Nihon Unisys, Ltd. (ICT service provider) jointly started a pilot project, commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), to provide a fast-charging service for electric vehicles at gas stations from October 2009 to the end of March 2010. With a first instalment of quick chargers in 22 gas stations across the nation (primarily in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture), the project explores and verifies customer need for and economic viability of fast-charging terminals and additional services (such as systems providing information on location and availability of charging stations through car navigation systems). At the same time, appropriate methods for charging fees and user authentication are considered.

A widespread use of electric vehicles can help achieving the ambitious target set by the Japanese government of reducing Japan’s greenhouse gas emission to 25% below 1990 levels by 2020.