Toyota Industries to Launch EV Charging Stations in Japan as Early as October
By Scott Doggett July 14, 2010
Toyota Industries Corp. announced earlier this week that it will launch in Japan as early as October the first mass-produced charging stations with communications functions for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, according to The Nikkei subscription newspaper.
Such data as the amount of power supplied by each station can be managed from a central location via cellular phone networks. Toyota Industries will provide periodic reports to operators of the stations as well as notify them of malfunctions, for example.
The charging stations, which were developed jointly with Nitto Electric Works Ltd., also have terminals so that they can connect with existing equipment, such as payment machines at parking lots.
The stations will have the same charging performance as products released last summer, capable of charging a plug-in hybrid in about 100 minutes. The price will also be around the same at roughly 500,000 yen ($5,665 today).
Toyota Industries intends to market the product to gas stations, convenience stores and other facilities by advertising the new features that make it easier to operate a large number of units, the Nikkei reported.
As analysts at IHS Automotive reminded us this week, the Japanese government is forecasting that next-generation vehicles (think hybrids and EVs) will contribute up to 50 percent of total vehicle sales in Japan by 2020.
Developing a network of charging stations is essential if these vehicles are to succeed. Mitsubishi and Fuji Heavy have already launched their EVs, the i-MiEV and the plug-in Stella, for sale onto the domestic market, while Nissan is set to launch its Leaf EV in Japan towards the end of this year.
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