Four leading Japanese automakers -- Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi -- have entered a partnership to develop a flexible charging infrastructure for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles in Japan.
There are currently about 1,700 quick chargers and just over 3,000 normal chargers in Japan, which is generally recognized to be insufficient. The quartet therefore wants to increase the number of normal chargers by 8,000 and quick chargers by 4,000, with the former being installed in commercial facilities (e.g. large shopping malls, do-it-yourself stores, and family restaurants), while the latter could be installed at en-route charging spots for shorter stops (e.g. highway parking areas, convenience stores, and gas stations).
The Japanese government announced subsidies for installation of charging stations totalling 100.5 billion yen (a little over $1 million) to quickly develop the charging infrastructure and expand the use of electrically powered vehicles across the country.
There are currently about 1,700 quick chargers and just over 3,000 normal chargers in Japan, which is generally recognized to be insufficient. The quartet therefore wants to increase the number of normal chargers by 8,000 and quick chargers by 4,000, with the former being installed in commercial facilities (e.g. large shopping malls, do-it-yourself stores, and family restaurants), while the latter could be installed at en-route charging spots for shorter stops (e.g. highway parking areas, convenience stores, and gas stations).
The Japanese government announced subsidies for installation of charging stations totalling 100.5 billion yen (a little over $1 million) to quickly develop the charging infrastructure and expand the use of electrically powered vehicles across the country.
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| Photo: Lesley Wimbush |