Japan embarks on first pilot for EV charging on public roads

The trial will examine the value and challenges associated with charging electric vehicles travelling along what would normally be no-parking zones.

With Japan aiming for zero carbon emissions by 2050, its government has put measures in place requiring car makers to improve fuel efficiency by 30% by the end of fiscal 2030.

In response, seven companies—Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), Chubu Electric Power, Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi; and the Development Bank of Japan Inc—started a joint venture called e-Mobility Power (eMP).

The consortium has now kicked off the country’s first-ever pilot project on the public roads of Aoba Ward, Yokohama, to examine the value, usefulness and challenges associated with public electric vehicle charging.

Challenges in e-mobility infrastructure

Some of the top challenges in powering fleets of electric car is the infrastructure for providing sufficient charging points, to create an environment that facilitates the use of EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs in the city, and to create new mechanisms that contribute to the expansion of the charging infrastructure.

In the pilot project, a direct current fast charger from ABB Electrification will be put to the test for its ability to offer quick, convenient charging of all electric vehicle models. The charger is designed to provide a full charge to two vehicles simultaneously, and will be tested in a system to power cars travelling along what would normally be a no-parking zone.

The ABB fast charger is one of more than 250 selected by eMP in 2020, and it is compliant with the CHAdeMO charging standards and is supposed to be future ready for EVs with high voltage battery systems. Its compact size makes it suitable for urban use, while highly customizable features such as cable management systems, offer flexible charging convenience for a broad range of EV users.

According to Kumail Rashid, E-mobility Division Lead (Asia Pacific), ABB: “(Our) e-mobility technologies will not only support this pilot, but also contribute to the wider expansion of charging facilities across the nation to encourage the electrification of vehicles. Together, we can write the future of safe and sustainable electrification in Japan.”