Yoichiro Kagawa and Takeo Miyazaki / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers
The government reaffirmed Monday it will cooperate with the private
sector to ensure CHAdeMo--the nation's method of rapid recharging for
electric vehicles--becomes the main international standard.
However, U.S. and German automakers are simultaneously aiming to make their "Combo" method the international standard. If they are successful, Japan may be left behind and its products could face the "Galapagos syndrome," a term that refers to an isolation from global markets. Concern about the Combo system has prompted the government to take action.
"We've learned in the past that [Japan] was excellent in terms of technological advances but unsuccessful in business development [to support its technology]. So this time we'll succeed in business development, as well," said Motohisa Furukawa, state minister for national policy.
"I'd like the CHAdeMo to be a successful example," he added. He made the remarks Monday during his meeting with Toshiyuki Shiga, chairman of the association promoting the CHAdeMo scheme.
Despite their technological prowess, neither Japan's analog high-definition broadcasting system nor its mobile phone technology are used in Europe or the United States, forcing Japanese companies to fight tough competitors in global markets.
The government therefore wants to prevent this from occurring again and aims to help the EV industry enhance its international competitiveness by making the CHAdeMo a global standard.
The battle over fast-charging standardization for EVs is likely to affect competition throughout the entire industry, where Japan currently has a lead.
The CHAdeMo association has about 430 members, including the major German equipment maker Bosch. There are 870 quick-charging stations in Japan, and another 238 are installed in overseas locations.
Currently, only Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. mass-produce EVs. The CHAdeMo method has already been used for fast EV charging, unlike its Combo rival.
U.S. and German automakers each developed their own fast-charging methods, but in October, seven major companies including Germany's Volkswagen and General Motors Co. of the United States agreed to standardize these into the Combo. The name was chosen because the Combo allows the plug to be used for both fast and standard charging. The CHAdeMo scheme requires different plugs for each type of charging.
While Combo devices have not yet been put into practical use, the method could quickly gain ground as it is backed by influential Western automakers.
"The CHAdeMo is being overlooked in international discussions," said Shiga, who is also Nissan's chief operating officer.
===
Impact on other industries
Japanese automakers have led global EV production. But if the Combo scheme becomes the international standard, domestic companies will be hit by cost increases to redesign EVs for overseas markets.
An advantage of the CHAdeMo's plug is that development is under way to enable it to transmit power from EVs to houses. The standardization of the charger could therefore affect other industries.
Nissan President Carlos Ghosn said Monday the two standards for EV fast charging would remain for a while, but eventually creating a unified standard would be preferable.
He anticipates that while the Combo method is likely to be widely used in the United States and Europe, CHAdeMo, which is already in operation, will continue to be used.
Meanwhile, supporters of CHAdeMo are trying to ensure its survival in global markets by spreading the use of the method. The government is planing to support CHAdeMo by providing subsidies for the installation of fast-charging stations throughout the nation.
The CHAdeMo method requires different plugs for fast charging and standard charging.
However, U.S. and German automakers are simultaneously aiming to make their "Combo" method the international standard. If they are successful, Japan may be left behind and its products could face the "Galapagos syndrome," a term that refers to an isolation from global markets. Concern about the Combo system has prompted the government to take action.
"We've learned in the past that [Japan] was excellent in terms of technological advances but unsuccessful in business development [to support its technology]. So this time we'll succeed in business development, as well," said Motohisa Furukawa, state minister for national policy.
"I'd like the CHAdeMo to be a successful example," he added. He made the remarks Monday during his meeting with Toshiyuki Shiga, chairman of the association promoting the CHAdeMo scheme.
Despite their technological prowess, neither Japan's analog high-definition broadcasting system nor its mobile phone technology are used in Europe or the United States, forcing Japanese companies to fight tough competitors in global markets.
The government therefore wants to prevent this from occurring again and aims to help the EV industry enhance its international competitiveness by making the CHAdeMo a global standard.
The battle over fast-charging standardization for EVs is likely to affect competition throughout the entire industry, where Japan currently has a lead.
The CHAdeMo association has about 430 members, including the major German equipment maker Bosch. There are 870 quick-charging stations in Japan, and another 238 are installed in overseas locations.
Currently, only Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. mass-produce EVs. The CHAdeMo method has already been used for fast EV charging, unlike its Combo rival.
U.S. and German automakers each developed their own fast-charging methods, but in October, seven major companies including Germany's Volkswagen and General Motors Co. of the United States agreed to standardize these into the Combo. The name was chosen because the Combo allows the plug to be used for both fast and standard charging. The CHAdeMo scheme requires different plugs for each type of charging.
While Combo devices have not yet been put into practical use, the method could quickly gain ground as it is backed by influential Western automakers.
"The CHAdeMo is being overlooked in international discussions," said Shiga, who is also Nissan's chief operating officer.
===
Impact on other industries
Japanese automakers have led global EV production. But if the Combo scheme becomes the international standard, domestic companies will be hit by cost increases to redesign EVs for overseas markets.
An advantage of the CHAdeMo's plug is that development is under way to enable it to transmit power from EVs to houses. The standardization of the charger could therefore affect other industries.
Nissan President Carlos Ghosn said Monday the two standards for EV fast charging would remain for a while, but eventually creating a unified standard would be preferable.
He anticipates that while the Combo method is likely to be widely used in the United States and Europe, CHAdeMo, which is already in operation, will continue to be used.
Meanwhile, supporters of CHAdeMo are trying to ensure its survival in global markets by spreading the use of the method. The government is planing to support CHAdeMo by providing subsidies for the installation of fast-charging stations throughout the nation.
(Mar. 28, 2012)
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