Tmc to conduct phv and ev charger infrastructure verification tests in japan

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) will carry out a series of verification tests in Aichi Prefecture, Japan from November 2012 to March 2013 to assess various practicalities of the widespread deployment of standard chargers¹ for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). The tests will be conducted together with two local governments and 10 businesses².

Currently, charger installation in Japan is carried out at the discretion of commercial and non-commercial facilities, and there is no established method of recuperating installation costs. To address this, national and local governments have set numerical and deployment schedule targets for chargers with the aim of promoting the widespread adoption of next-generation vehicles, such as PHVs and EVs.

The tests will examine optimal charger deployment locations as well as operational and billing methods and are aimed at facilitating the establishment of a comprehensive charging infrastructure, which would enable the widespread acceptance of next-generation vehicles and lead toward the realisation of a low-carbon society.

The tests will focus on standard chargers able to be used for both PHVs and EVs, helping operators keep installation costs low. In particular, the following three areas will be examined:

1. A new coin-operated standard charger based on the "G-Station" charger, developed by Toyota Media Service Corporation, will be developed and deployed to explore the feasibility of different billing methods and pricing structures.
2. Approximately 20 new standard chargers will be installed at commercial hubs, public facilities, pay-by-hour car parks and similar locations, to analyse usage patterns and assess deployment locations and operation methods.
3. The provision of a variety of information will be tested through the G-Station's Wi-Fi connectivity, with the usefulness of different kinds of information evaluated. The information may include business operating hours and events at commercial facilities, as well as disaster updates from the Aichi Prefectural government.

The verification tests qualify for backing by the "Subsidy Programme to Support RandD for the Creation of New Aichi"³ programme in FY 2012. Funds from the subsidy programme will be used mainly to provide financial support for the installation of chargers for the tests.

Through this kind of initiative, TMC aims to propose a framework for appropriate charger deployment and to help operators recover overhead costs. Furthermore, TMC intends to further the development and market penetration of PHVs, EVs, and other next-generation vehicles as well as to contribute to the improvement of charging infrastructures.

¹ A type of charger for electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that provides a 100 V (similar to a regular household outlet) or a 200 V power supply.

² In alphabetical order: Gamagori City, Toyota City ÆON Mall Co., Ltd., Gamagori Marine Development Co., Ltd., Meitetsu Impress Co., Ltd., Meitetsu Kyosho., Ltd., Park24 Co., Ltd., Toyota Town Management Co. Ltd., Toyota Media Service Corporation, Toyota Stadium Corporation, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, UNY Co., Ltd.

³ Support fund established to promote RandD and verification tests by industry in fields such as next-generation vehicles and aerospace where future-oriented developments are expected. This is one of the financial support programmes established and started by Aichi Prefecture in FY2012 to counter deindustrialisation trends, with funds from the "Tax Reduction Fund to Countermeasure Deindustrialisation" subsidy programme.