Japanese group plans to make fast EV charging technology the global standard
A group of Japanese automakers, including Nissan and Toyota, are teaming up with Japan’s biggest electric company and the government to make electric-vehicle recharging technology the global standard and bringing it to the United States.
The aim of the coalition, known as CHAdeMo, is to corner the market on one of the technologies that will play a key role in consumers opening up to electric-cars – high-speed charging stations.
“What we need to do is make this protocol a standard outside Japan,” said Tsunehisa Katsumata, chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Co., the main utility backing the venture.
A total of 158 companies involved in the group are pushing for the idea of common charging “language” for fast-charging electric-vehicles from various brands. They say that the move would cut development cost and encourage the use of EVs by consumers.
Tokyo Electric Power developed the protocol with Fuji Heavy Industries, the owners of Subaru, four years ago and have made it the standard in Japan.
Nissan Toyota, Fuji and Mitsubishi are all part of the group and use, or plan on using the fast-charging technology.
– By: Stephen Calogera
Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)
