Japanese Automakers Form Nippon Charges to Build Charging Station Network
2014 Nissan LEAF
Nissan and fellow Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi have come together to establish Nippon Charges, a new company intended to help build a charging station network as well as promote chargers for electric-powered vehicles.
The goal is to build a functional network of charging facilities to offer more convenience to EV drivers in Japan. Nippon Charges—with some funding help from the Development Bank of Japan’s “Fund for Japanese Industrial Competitiveness” program—will financially assist charging station installers as well as take applications from prospective installers, such as parking areas, hotels, convenience stores, and other facilities in key locations. Help from the four automakers combined with government subsidies should allow successful applicants to cover the entire cost of installation.
Nippon Charges will also provide car owners will a universally-accepted charging card to further enhance convenience for EV drivers.
So, the only question remains: when can we expect the Detroit Three to install a charging station network here in the US? With the popularity of electric vehicles rising, it’s only a matter of time before an EV charging station network becomes a necessity, rather than a luxury.
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