The B2B platform for full-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: Industry News

In our weekly scan of original Japanese media, this time we give you a short overview on functional EV charging pillars, re-used and sun powered li-ion batteries for fast charging, Toda Kogyo supplying the Nissan Leaf, EV lessons for “normal” car drivers, and EVs going for rent.

Charge the EV at the door post

Ahead of wide uptake of EVs, YKK AP Japan will at the end of this month start selling EV charging pillars with additional functions on top of giving access to power. The practical pillars can be used as lighting posts in drive ways or simply replace the door post where one can attach a name plat and an inter-phone.
The 200V pillars mainly source power from cheap night electricity. As the pillar can also switch to 100V, other electronic devices, working equipment and electronic barbecues can be plugged in as well. The price will be around 264,600 ¥ (~ 2,400€).

Li-ion batteries: is there life after the EV?

The Japanese battery manufacturer GS Yuasa and Mitsubshi start field testing GS Yuasa's PV-EV charging system with the i-MiEV this fall. The idea is that energy generated by solar cells is stored in big lithium-ion batteries which EVs can plug-into for fast charging. It will furthermore allow to re-use the li-ion batteries when they are not usable for EVs anymore but are still performing to a sufficient level for the charging station.

Toda Kogyo will supply Nissan

In reaction to having the whole quota for 2010 of 6,000 EV Leaf pre-reserved only 2 months after opening registration for pre-reservation, Nissan plans to ramp-up production. Because more EVs also mean more batteries, Nissan has entered a joint venture with Toda Kogyo, manufacturer of cathode material, for in-house battery production.
Toda Kogyo also supplies LG, Samsung and BYD with cathode material.

Experience the EV and compare it to your “normal” car

JAF Mate, the monthly magazine of the Japan Automobile Federation, the Japan EV Club and the EV deployment managers of Mitsubishi and Nissan, held this month a seminar in Tokyo, inviting “normal” car drivers to learn about the functioning of EVs and, more importantly, drive one themselves, as well as discuss their view on barriers to the broad introduction of EVs.
Due to the high interest in the seminar, a second one will probably be held on 29 August 2010.

Rent an EV

From October 2010 on, Nippon Rent-a-car will officially integrate EVs into the rental fleet of its home-base in Hiroshima. The current plan is to have 5 i-MiEVs and 2 Nissan Leaf. To rent a i-MiEV for 12 hours will cost 37€, while 24 hours will be at 47€. The prices for renting a Nissan Leaf have not been announced yet.


The original articles are listed below in the order of appearance in the column.