Two articles on electric cars were featured on today's Nikkei news, looks like the electric vehicle is gaining ground. First article is on a high-end sports car, and the second is an everyday commuter model for the average Joe. China is the market targeted, the world's biggest automobile market.
Cheers!
http://asia.nikkei.com/Tech-Science/Tech/Japan-gives-homegrown-electric-sports-car-the-green-light
July 21, 2014 2:05 am JST
Japan gives homegrown electric sports car the green light
OSAKA -- GLM, a Kyoto-based developer of electric vehicles, has received government safety certification for its sports car, the Tommy Kaira ZZ, enabling it to launch Japanese production and European exports this year.
The company aims for 3 billion yen ($29 million) in sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016.
Certification from the Ministry of Transport allows the vehicle to drive on Japan's public roads. GLM already has 99 advance orders for the car, which it will begin shipments of this month.
GLM tapped research from Kyoto University and collaborated with Kyoto parts companies such as Nichicon to develop the Tommy Kaira ZZ. The vehicle can accelerate from zero to 100kph in 3.9 seconds and travel 120km on a single charge.
The sporty electric will cost 8 million yen before taxes. The company plans to get certification from the U.K. this year, eyeing exports to key European markets including France and Germany. It envisions sales of 300 cars by 2015, and hopes to advance in Asian markets such as China and Taiwan next year.
(Nikkei)
http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Nissan-launches-electric-car-test-in-China
July 20, 2014 1:00 pm JST
Nissan launches electric car test in China
AZUSA KAWAKAMI, Nikkei staff writer
TOKYO -- Nissan Motor has launched a demonstration test of its 300 electric vehicles in three Chinese cities ahead of the release of the EVs in China this autumn.
Nissan aims to catch up with its European rivals in the Chinese market, where worsening air pollution is increasing demand for EVs and other eco-friendly vehicles. A trend has also received a boost from purchasing subsidies offered by the central and local governments. The Chinese government plans to promote a total of 500,000 EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2015. But only about 17,000 EV and PHV units were sold in the country in 2013.
The government will develop charging infrastructure for individual vehicle users to address concerns about running out of power.
Tesla Motors of the U.S. and Germany's Daimler plan to unveil high-end EVs to sell for over 6 million yen ($58,445) with subsidies for eco-friendly car purchases provided by Chinese local governments in mind. Luxury EVs are expected to cater to the highly brand-conscious Chinese consumer.
In China, people are less environmentally conscious than people in Japan and Europe. Nissan is going on the offensive with low-priced EVs, but near-term new car sales are slow to recover due in part to tensions between the nations over the Senkaku Islands, a group of small uninhabited islets known as the Diaoyu Islands in China.
A green EV, similar in appearance to Nissan's Leaf, was driving through small trucks carrying bulky luggage in an urban area of Guangzhou city, in Guangdong Province. According to a local taxi company which owns 100 taxis, there are currently 60 EV taxis operating in the city. The city has 103 normal chargers and 23 quick chargers in taxi parking areas to stably supply electricity.
Localized EV promo
The China chose Guangzhou as a model for promoting EVs, and Nissan signed an EV supply deal with the city in 2011. Nissan supplies the e30 electric car under the Venucia brand, which was exclusively developed for Chinese consumers. The brand is owned by Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle, Nissan's joint venture with China's Dongfeng Motor.
The e30 has run 1 million kilometers during its demonstration test in China without failures. Nissan will start selling the e30 to individuals in China in September. "We want to control a 20% share of the Chinese EV market," said Jun Seki, a senior vice president who heads Nissan's Chinese operations.
Though the e30 looks exactly like the Leaf, its inner structure and price are totally different from the Leaf. The e30 is fully developed in China and is "absolutely a Venucia EV," said a Nissan official. The e30's battery cells are manufactured in Japan, but the vehicle is assembled in China. The e30 uses Nissan's depreciated parts to reduce costs.
The price for the e30 has not been disclosed. But the Venucia R30 new subcompact, for which Nissan will start receiving orders within two months, is priced at less than 50,000 yuan ($8,059), a low price on par with vehicles offered by local automakers.
Cheers!
http://asia.nikkei.com/Tech-Science/Tech/Japan-gives-homegrown-electric-sports-car-the-green-light
July 21, 2014 2:05 am JST
Japan gives homegrown electric sports car the green light
OSAKA -- GLM, a Kyoto-based developer of electric vehicles, has received government safety certification for its sports car, the Tommy Kaira ZZ, enabling it to launch Japanese production and European exports this year.
The company aims for 3 billion yen ($29 million) in sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016.
Certification from the Ministry of Transport allows the vehicle to drive on Japan's public roads. GLM already has 99 advance orders for the car, which it will begin shipments of this month.
GLM tapped research from Kyoto University and collaborated with Kyoto parts companies such as Nichicon to develop the Tommy Kaira ZZ. The vehicle can accelerate from zero to 100kph in 3.9 seconds and travel 120km on a single charge.
The sporty electric will cost 8 million yen before taxes. The company plans to get certification from the U.K. this year, eyeing exports to key European markets including France and Germany. It envisions sales of 300 cars by 2015, and hopes to advance in Asian markets such as China and Taiwan next year.
(Nikkei)
http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Nissan-launches-electric-car-test-in-China
July 20, 2014 1:00 pm JST
Nissan launches electric car test in China
AZUSA KAWAKAMI, Nikkei staff writer
TOKYO -- Nissan Motor has launched a demonstration test of its 300 electric vehicles in three Chinese cities ahead of the release of the EVs in China this autumn.
Nissan aims to catch up with its European rivals in the Chinese market, where worsening air pollution is increasing demand for EVs and other eco-friendly vehicles. A trend has also received a boost from purchasing subsidies offered by the central and local governments. The Chinese government plans to promote a total of 500,000 EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2015. But only about 17,000 EV and PHV units were sold in the country in 2013.
The government will develop charging infrastructure for individual vehicle users to address concerns about running out of power.
Tesla Motors of the U.S. and Germany's Daimler plan to unveil high-end EVs to sell for over 6 million yen ($58,445) with subsidies for eco-friendly car purchases provided by Chinese local governments in mind. Luxury EVs are expected to cater to the highly brand-conscious Chinese consumer.
In China, people are less environmentally conscious than people in Japan and Europe. Nissan is going on the offensive with low-priced EVs, but near-term new car sales are slow to recover due in part to tensions between the nations over the Senkaku Islands, a group of small uninhabited islets known as the Diaoyu Islands in China.
A green EV, similar in appearance to Nissan's Leaf, was driving through small trucks carrying bulky luggage in an urban area of Guangzhou city, in Guangdong Province. According to a local taxi company which owns 100 taxis, there are currently 60 EV taxis operating in the city. The city has 103 normal chargers and 23 quick chargers in taxi parking areas to stably supply electricity.
Localized EV promo
The China chose Guangzhou as a model for promoting EVs, and Nissan signed an EV supply deal with the city in 2011. Nissan supplies the e30 electric car under the Venucia brand, which was exclusively developed for Chinese consumers. The brand is owned by Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle, Nissan's joint venture with China's Dongfeng Motor.
The e30 has run 1 million kilometers during its demonstration test in China without failures. Nissan will start selling the e30 to individuals in China in September. "We want to control a 20% share of the Chinese EV market," said Jun Seki, a senior vice president who heads Nissan's Chinese operations.
Though the e30 looks exactly like the Leaf, its inner structure and price are totally different from the Leaf. The e30 is fully developed in China and is "absolutely a Venucia EV," said a Nissan official. The e30's battery cells are manufactured in Japan, but the vehicle is assembled in China. The e30 uses Nissan's depreciated parts to reduce costs.
The price for the e30 has not been disclosed. But the Venucia R30 new subcompact, for which Nissan will start receiving orders within two months, is priced at less than 50,000 yuan ($8,059), a low price on par with vehicles offered by local automakers.
