Demonstrations Commence Using Commercial Electric Vehicles with the Aim of Achieving Carbon Neutrality in the Transportation Sector, such as the Operation of Buses, Trucks, and Taxies

1. Project Summary

Commercial vehicles have high operation rates and large energy consumption, so existing electric vehicles, whose cruising range is short and which need long charging times, cannot sustain the required level of operation rates. Therefore, the electrification of commercial vehicles lags behind that of passenger cars. Accordingly, focusing on the point that commercial vehicles are operated in a planned manner, efforts are required to optimize energy use and vehicle operation through integrally managing them and achieving coordinated operation of commercial vehicles running in the same area.

For the purpose of achieving carbon neutrality in the transportation sector, this project aims to develop technology to manage energy use integrally with vehicle operation based on vehicle data and traveling data of commercial electric vehicles. Combining this with simulation technology will thereby establish a smart mobility society wherein energy use and operation management are optimized in individual transportation companies and in society as a whole.

2. Recent Moves of Adopted Companies

First of all, it is necessary to collect vehicle data and traveling data of commercial electric vehicles to be used for the development of a technology to manage energy use integrally with vehicle operation. The following companies commenced the introduction of commercial electric vehicles that are necessary for the demonstration of such technology. Going forward, they will operate these vehicles, collect relevant data and move on to R&D and demonstration of technology to manage energy use integrally with vehicle operation as well as with simulation technology. They will further increase the number of vehicles for the demonstrations.

(1) Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation and a participating consortium commenced a demonstration using fuel cell vans (in Fukushima and Tokyo).

Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation and a participating consortium commenced a demonstration using fuel cell vans in Fukushima sequentially from February 2023 and in Tokyo sequentially from April 2023. Going forward, they will manage the timing of hydrogen refueling and delivery plans integrally to achieve efficient operation in consideration of the downtime for hydrogen refueling with the aim of eventually reducing social costs.

(2) Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. is planning to commence a demonstration using electric buses that will also be utilized in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (in Osaka).

Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. announced that it will commence the demonstration using electric buses sequentially from July 2023. The vehicles to be introduced will also be utilized for transportation inside and outside the venue of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Out of the 100 electric buses to be introduced, around 10 will be automatically operated, aiming to achieve operation at Level 4. All those to be introduced are vehicles manufactured by EV Motors Japan Corp.

(3) Yamato Transport Co., Ltd. concluded a Partnership Agreement on Co-creation for Achieving Carbon Neutrality with Gunma Prefecture (in Gunma).

In June 2023, Yamato Transport Co., Ltd. and Gunma Prefecture concluded a Partnership Agreement on Co-creation for Achieving Carbon Neutrality with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality and a sustainable society that is beneficial to all citizens, companies, and local communities. Based on this partnership agreement, the company will promote efforts for introducing and operating BEVs and managing energy use within Gunma Prefecture. In particular, the company plans to conduct a demonstration of energy management for transportation using cartridge battery-powered trucks.

(Reference) Projects Organized by the Green Innovation Fund

In October 2020, the government of Japan declared that it aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. For achieving the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050, it is necessary to significantly accelerate efforts toward structural changes in the energy and industrial sectors, and undertake bold investment for innovation. Therefore, METI established a Green Innovation Fund in the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to support projects organized thereby.

Related Link

• NEDO's Website: Green Japan, Green Innovation

Division in Charge

Automobile Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau