Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi Motor companies have agreed to work together to jointly promote the installation of chargers for electric-powered vehicles (PHVs, PHEVs, EVs) and create a large charging network service that will offer more convenience to drivers in Japan. This movement is in response to the need to quickly develop charging facilities to promote the use of electric powered vehicles, which is already a quickly growing market. These four car companies that are already providing their own electric cars, are being helped by government subsidies from Japan, but are also bearing part of the costs to install these charging facilities. Currently there are about 1,700 quick chargers and just over 3,000 normal chargers in Japan, total. The lack of sufficient coordination among existing charging providers is limiting the market for these cars and can be significantly improved with some collaboration. The government announced subsidies numbering around 100.5 billion yen along with contributions from the car companies for the installation of charging facilities. This not only provides a value to the companies, but to the community and environment as well. Currently there are three different charging methods for electric-powered cars: basic charging, in private homes; destination charging, charged in public locations like shopping malls; and en-route charging at locations including expressway roadside service areas, gas stations etc.
The agreement provides that the four companies will launch a joint project that will include the following:
- Promote installation of chargers in Japan.
- Temporarily bear some of the installation and maintenance costs.
- Create a charging infrastructure network that enables customers to use their electric vehicles more conveniently.
- Collaborate will both government agencies and local governments.
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