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Japanese carmakers set out to create a unified global system of charging stations for electric vehicles.

The mass introduction of electric vehicles is still connected with the need for appropriate infrastructure. In particular, it is necessary to create a unified system of electric charging stations, similar to the existing networks of stations. Therefore, Japanese carmakers, together with the leading electrical corporation of the country have formed an association, which will promote the worldwide network of charging stations for electric vehicles. In addition, the association aims to develop a single global standard for such systems.

The founders of the association are Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. and Tokyo Electric Power Co. In addition, another 158 organizations, including governmental, in Japan and from other countries plan to join the association.

By 2012, Mitsubishi plans to build in Japan 1.000 charging stations for electric vehicles in large cities and at stations of high-speed railways. Even now some common gas stations of the country have started to place blocks for EVs fast charging. The government supports the work of the Association and intends to finance the creation of a new type of electric vehicle, capable of driving from 400 to 600 km without charging. Experts of the Japanese auto market say it will be technically possible to convert the entire car fleet of the country to electric vehicles by 2030.

According to Nissan’s chief operating officer Toshiyuki Shiga, today automakers are competing in many areas, but the industry as a whole needs a collective effort to increase the comfort for consumers. At present, the introduction of electric vehicles is at an experimental stage, and chargers stations differ in such technical standards as the voltage supply, type of connector and the rate of recharge. Therefore it is necessary to create a single global network with a single standard.

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