Latest on energy storage and charging infrastructure - Electric Japan Weekly No46

This Japan column reports on promising developments in energy density of EV batteries from Toyota, wireless charging experiments, which are part of a Smart City Project, and the growing charging infrastructure in the Kanto area. Also, the end of the Eco Car subsidy program was marked by a total government assistance of €2.7bil.

Toyota develops a new all-solid battery type with 5 times higher power density

Last week at an event in Tokyo, Toyota presented its latest achievements in energy storage technology. In the prototype battery the lithium-ion battery electrolyte was replaced by all solid electrolyte improving overall compactness. According to Toyota this world leading technology considerably improves the transfer of ions. The results show 5x increased power output per unit of volume. The new all-solid battery is in the development stage, in order to make practical use of the technology an inexpensive substitute to Germanium will be necessary.



Source: Toyota


Experimental installation of cutting edge wireless charging technology

As a part of the Smart City Project in Kashiwa, Chiba prefecture, an experimental test of a smart house equipped with the latest environmental and energy conscious technology will begin in November 2012. Among the technologies that deserve the most attention is the EV wireless charging system installed in the parking space of the house. The wireless charging system works on the principle of magnetic field resonance.



Source: Mitsui Home


Over 50 charging spots in Kanto area – newly launched service of the Japan Charge Network

A new charging network with a membership system will be launched in October. Japan Charge Network is working on this project with several major infrastructure operators, retail store and restaurants chains. Over 50 charging spots will be available at highways, convenience stores, airport, family restaurants and other often visited locations. The members of the network will be offered several price plans from “single charge” to “super value plan”. Similar initiatives are contributing to the rapidly increasing number of charging stations throughout Japan – building up essential infrastructure making the wider spread of EVs possible. Similar to the “Coco Juden” project mapping charging stations in Japan, Nissan Motor company is a 30% share holder of the Japan Charge Network.



Source: Japan Charge Network


Electric vehicle technology development exhibition - EVEX 2012

Tokyo Big Sight was the place to be last week for all the fans of latest EV industry research and development. Over three days, the EVEX 2012 exhibition informed visitors on various infrastructure and vehicle solutions. Particular focus seemed to be on the charging stations. Technology examples ranging from small portable or coin chargers to large fast charging stations can be found in the photos gallery of the original article (here) in Japanese.


End of the Eco Car subsidy program

September 21st was the last day to apply for a subsidy from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for the purchase of a personal eco car. Considered under the eco car category are electric vehicles (EV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in HEV, but also low emission vehicles with an internal combustion engine. The subsidy program started on the 2nd April, and on the very last day received 34,000 applications, totalling €32.7mil. The total amount granted in subsidies for the duration of the program was €2.7bil.

The original articles are listed below in the order of appearance in the column.

MORE INFORMATION

• 【トヨタ 環境技術発表】出力密度を5倍に高めた全固体電池の電解質をž
• 電気自動車にワイヤレスで電力を供給、ケーブルやコンセントが不要
• JRや空港など関東50か所で充電可能に - ジャパンチャージネットワークのEVߩ
• EVEX2012 フォトギャラリー
• エコカー補助金の申請受付 9月21日受理分で終了

How to reach EV mass market by 2025

The environmental law centres at UCLA and UC Berkeley Schools of Law have published “Electric Drive by ’25’, analysing actions needed to ensure that California catalyses mass adoption of electric vehicles by 2025, with the goal of building a long-term market in the US.

“Increased adoption of electric vehicles will improve California’s environment and economy”, states the report. At stake is the future of the electric vehicle market. California accounts for 11 percent of the national market for annual new car sales, as well as more than 20 percent of non plug-in hybrid vehicle sales in the US. With such a significant market share and volume of cars, California can help launch a sustainable and more robust electric vehicle market, with the country and world benefitting as a result.

Top three barriers to mass consumer EV adoption

The report highlights the following three obstacles as among the most significant:

• Lack of consumer awareness and information. Many consumers are unfamiliar with electric vehicles and their performance, while at the same time they may harbor common misperceptions about vehicle types, safety, range, impact on their electricity bills, and other facets of electric vehicle ownership.
• Lack of appeal to a broader market. The higher initial costs and limited battery range of some electric vehicles may make them less attractive to a broader market segment beyond early adopters.
• Lack of access to charging infrastructure outside of the home. Potential electric vehicle customers may be deterred by a non-home charging infrastructure that seems inadequate, difficult to navigate, and unpredictable in its pricing.

Summary of solutions to overcome the long-term EV challenges

Based on a workshop discussion, this paper identifies the actions that EV manufacturers, stakeholders, advocates, and government leaders can take to ensure that California catalyses mass adoption of electric vehicles by 2025. Policy-makers, industry leaders, and advocates will need to:

• Educate consumers, the media, and elected officials through a simple and effective outreach campaign about the benefits and joy of driving electric vehicles;
• Reduce fees, taxes, and upfront costs for electric vehicle owners and invest in battery research; and
• Plan for and facilitate deployment of a well-planned and easy-to-use charging infrastructure network.

Conclusion: The Future of Electric Vehicles

California has a strong interest in promoting the adoption of electric vehicles, based on the benefits to the economy, environment, and quality of life. With electric vehicle sales likely to increase in the long term given projected improvements to battery life and likely cost reductions, the state should begin planning now to address the challenges associated with large-scale adoption of the vehicle technologies. Heightened public awareness, easy access to financing, reduced barriers to purchase, and a well-planned and maintained charging infrastructure will help the state become a leader in electric vehicle deployment by 2025. The state and local momentum to facilitate consumer adoption of electric vehicles will ultimately help California contribute to the global changes now underway in how consumers power their vehicles.

MORE INFORMATION

• Electric Drive '25

Where The Real Battle For Electric Cars Is Happening

Where The Real Battle For Electric Cars Is Happening

By Nicolas Zart on Fri, 09/07/2012 - 12:56 

Auto News

Forget Detroit, forget even European carmakers when you try to decipher the electric car market. The real action is in China and South Korea.

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Not to burst anyone’s bubble but the real action defining tomorrow’s alternative energy cars is happening well away from our domestic concerns equally shared between China and South Korea.

Chinese Manufacturing Might. While politicians debate moot points of helping companies build domestically, it’s hard to argue against paying an international worker the fraction of the price it takes to get the same done domestically. China has a glut of manpower and is barely getting started on building its very own automobile market. While the country makes cars, it has also invested heavily in alternative energy sources and its manufacturing with battery packs are built and assembled right there.

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South Korea's Slow Progression. Right below the Chinese media radar is a country that has consistently and quietly infiltrated every part of the automobile world, South Korea. LG Chem is THE company to watch as it continues to produce most of electric and plug in vehicle’s battery packs. Don’t believe me? GM Volt and by the same extension Opel’s Ampera, Ford’s Fusion and C-MAX hybrid and plug-in hybrids version, Renault’s Z.E. line is expected to use LG Chem’s cells. These are the world’s Top 4 carmakers sharing the same supplier for electric car batteries.

For China, the prospect of an untapped and budding market means serious cash that manufacturers and assembles almost all battery packs for electric cars, as well as producing the almost entirety of solar panels, wind turbines, and other alternative energy sources. For South Korea, it’s a little different. LG Chem is not interested in loud and futuristic predictions of exotic lithium chemistries, although its R&D is certainly working on that. It is working in the here and now, making a heck of a lot of Lithium-ion batteries, effectively lowering the cost of manufacturing and production, and dominating the market with quality products.

This leaves us, the West, chronically embattled in sterile debates over world market domination. The West, Europe included has slowly become over the decades the market outlet for Asia. The advent of electric cars and plug-in hybrids opened a new market type, something Asia was quick to react to. In the meantime, the West continues to manipulate unrealistic political theories.

While we watch endless bi-partisan political conflicts in the West, China and South Korea have had ample time to get to work and theorize less, giving them a complete market dominance. In the meantime, forget domestic market shares and eventual ingenious breakthroughs. Sit down, watch and enjoy Asia teaching the West a mighty lesson or two by manufacturing the next wave of electric and plug-in hybrid cars destined for our roads.

Electric cars now primary vehicles | UTSanDiego.com

Electric cars now primary vehicles | UTSanDiego.com

Electric cars now primary vehicles

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Written by

Morgan Lee

6 a.m., Sept. 3, 2012

San Diego is leading the rest of the country in putting electric cars on the road and is building an infrastructure of charging stations to support an expected influx of plug-in vehicles over the next few years. U-T

The majority of plug-in electrical vehicles in California are identified as a primary car by their owners, according to a statewide survey by the California Center for Sustainable Energy.

Documents »

Download: Owner Survey: Plug-in Cars

Nine out of 10 owners said plug-in vehicles represent their primary ride -- though almost all had a second, conventional car, according to a survey with more than 1,400 respondents released this month. The study was conducted by the California Center for Sustainable Energy in coordination with the state Air Resources Board.

Monthly mileage averaged about 800 -- the equivalent of almost 10,000 miles a year.

"These aren't hobby cars, these aren't weekend cars," said Mike Ferry, transportation programs manager for the energy center. "They are everyday use cars."

The questionnaires were sent out earlier this year to people who have owned their plug-in vehicles for six months or more, allowing enough time for the drivers to settle into commuting and battery charging routines.

Results highlighted new strides toward greater adoption of zero-emission personal transportation -- along with some enduring barriers.

About two-thirds of plug-in vehicle charging took place during over-night hours, placing minimal stress on the power grid, according to the survey. That bodes well for expanding electric vehicle ownership without major infrastructure upgrades, Ferry said.

Plug-in vehicles are a key component of the state's goals for greening its car fleet. Gov. Jerry Brown recently set a goal of 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles (electric and hydrogen-powered) by 2025.

But hurdles still stand in the way.

Of plug-in owners surveyed, 97 percent live in a single-family homes that easily accommodate car charging equipment. That leaves 3 percent of owners living in a multi-dwelling units or other housing situations.

"To make it practical to own a plug-in car, you have to have some place where you can park it overnight and plug it in," Ferry said. "If we want to expand this market, we need to make it available to people in all kinds of settings."

California, with more than 12,000 plug-in vehicles, accounts for one-in-three plug-in electric vehicle in circulation nationwide.

Government incentives still help sustain the plug-in car market. The state's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project provides a rebate of $2,500 on pure-battery electrics like the Nissan Leaf, or $1,500 for plug-in hybrids like the Chevy Volt or plug-in Toyota Prius. A federal tax credit can offset up to an additional $7,500 of a vehicle's cost.

The survey found more than half of owners also received subsidies for a high-voltage home charging station.

Large batteries and other technology make plug-in electric vehicles more expensive than their gasoline power equivalents. Prospective buyers still must weigh that initial investment against the pay-off from lower fuel costs combined with government incentives.

Special utility rates for the San Diego area allow plug-in vehicles to recharge for the energy equivalent of between 90 cents and $1.90 a gallon of gasoline, according to the energy center. Net metering provisions for solar customers can also provide savings.

Ferry said high-mileage drivers in some instances are achieving immediate savings through competitively priced leases.

Most plug-in car buyers are motivated by the potential for savings on long daily commutes, said Yeves Perez, a 32-year-old Chevy Volt owner in Rancho San Diego who organizes social gatherings among fellow Volt owners through a Facebook page.

Perez, who works at an ad agency, has logged over 20,000 miles in his Volt since early 2011. The car’s hybrid technology is a source of fascination and entertainment in itself, as owners compete for efficient driving marks at the website and smart-phone app Volt Stats.

The service tracks “real world usage of Chevy Volts in the wild,” as owners squeeze the most out of batteries before the hybrid car's gasoline engine kicks in as designed.

Of the respondents to the the statewide survey, 71 percent said they had access to public-access or work-related charging station. Those charging locations help extend the effective range of a plug-in car's battery power.

Plug-in electric vehicles account for a small but growing fraction of the California vehicle fleet -- 0.9 percent of new passenger car sales since the introduction of the Nissan Leaf in May 2011, according to data from the California New Car Dealers Association.