Friday, November 27, 2009

Mazda to Participate in Electric Vehicle Test in Japan with the Mazda2 / Demios


Mazda has announced that it will take part in a joint project to test electric vehicles in Japan, by providing three Mazda2 / Demio superminis to be converted into EVs and will also assist in determining the vehicle specifications and evaluating the car's performance. Among the companies participating in the project, which will be lead by the Itochu Corporation, are Norway's Th!nk, Seiko and Nippon Car Solutions.

The Tsukuba Environmental Style Test Project is scheduled to commence in March 2010 in Tsukuba city, near Tokyo.

The Japanese automaker said that through its participation in the EV project, it aims to further strengthen the base of its future R&D activities in the development of its electric drive technologies.


Participating organizations

Project leader

Itochu Corporation

List of collaborating companies and roles & responsibilities

Family Mart

Provide sites for the project at convenience stores

Itochu Enex

Provide sites for the project at service stations

Tokyo R&D

Electric vehicle-related

Th!nk (Norway)

Electric vehicle-related

Kyuki

Supply rapid chargers

EnerDel Inc. (US)

Supply vehicle batteries and fixed batteries

Seiko Electric

Fixed battery system integration

Itochu Techno-Solutions

Supply ICT technology, data center

Windcar

Car sharing service operation

Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation

Car sharing-related

Nippon Car Solutions Co.

Car sharing-related

Ecosystem Japan

Supply solar panel systems

Mazda Motor Corporation

Electric vehicle-related (provide Mazda Demio vehicles)

Advisory Committee

Tsukuba City

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI)

The Japan Research Institute, Limited