Not to be outdone by its Japanese rivals, Mazda will lead the way in a new project aimed at testing a low carbon transport system that uses clean energy.
The company will provide three Mazda Demios (Mazda2s) for conversion to electric vehicles as part of the project in collaboration with Itochu Corporation and other companies in conjunction with Tsukuba City for the Tsukuba Environmental Style Test Project that is scheduled to begin in March, 2010. The aim of the project is to assess a low carbon energy network composed of electric vehicles, fixed battery stations, solar panels, a car sharing service and rapid chargers.
Mazda has adopted a policy aimed at improving its internal combustion engines and then combine them with electric devices. This includes the i-stop idling stop system, regenerative braking and hybrid systems. Now it aims to strengthen the base of future research and development activities.
Its main initiatives will include testing the viability of reusing electric vehicle batteries in fixed battery stations; testing a model to optimally use renewable energy in electric vehicles; and testing the viability of a new electric vehicle car sharing system to accelerate a low-carbon transport society.
The additional organisations that will play a role in the project include the Itochu Corporation as the project leader; Family Mart, which will provide sites at convenience stores; Itochu Enex, which will provide sites at service stations; Kyuki which will provide rapid charges; Think and Tokyo R&D, which will both provide electric vehicles; and EnerDel Inc US, which will supply vehicle batteries and fixed batteries.
Also contributing will be Seiko Electric for fixed battery system integration; Itochu Techno-Solutions for ICT technology and a data centre; Windcar Car with a sharing service; Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation and Nippon Car Solutions both for car sharing; and Ecosystem Japan with solar panel systems.
