Monday, March 15, 2010

Toyota, Nissan, new set up electric car group

Toyota and three other Japanese automakers mutually with a power company have set up a group to promote electric vehicles by standardizing recharging machines and marketing the technology abroad.

Representatives of Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Fuji Heavy Industries and Tokyo Electric Power Co. meeted at a Tokyo hotel Monday to proclaim the association, which includes about 160 businesses, some of them foreign, and government organizations.

The officials said the time may have inwards for electric vehicles to actually take off not only in Japan but also around the world as concerns grow about emissions and dependence on oil. But the main hurdles that require to be overcome are better battery technology, costs and having recharging stations in convenient locations.

Automakers are challenging in many aspects, but the entire industry needs to come together and offer convenience for our customers, said Nissan Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga.

Nissan is planning to start selling in limited numbers an electric vehicle called Leaf shortly this year, and Mitsubishi and Fuji Heavy already have electric vehicles on the market. Toyota has begin present for rental a plug-in version of its gas-electric hybrid vehicles.

But electric vehicles still continue largely experimental. The main users now are government-related groups with only a niche market between regular consumers.

The group is still functioning out the details of its recharging platform. Standardization would need all makers to agree on the voltage, outlet and other aspects of the technology while also ensuring relatively speedy recharging.


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