Category: ‘Electric Cars’

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SIM-WIL: SIM-Drive’s 351KM-range EV with 5.4 Second 0 – 100KM/H Performance

Posted by Stephen On Thursday, March 29th, 2012

351 KM (218 miles) of range, and 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 5.4 seconds. And there’s more: On the outside it’s a compact car (“B segment” in Japan) but it has the interior space of a large executive sedan (“E Segment” in Japan).

What is it? It’s the SIM-WIL.

Regular readers will recall the previous prototype from SIM-Drive — the SIM-LEI that I wrote about last year. The SIM-WIL is the latest iteration of EV development for SIM-Drive, who are looking to get the final production model on sale in 2014.

SIM-WIL prototype EV by SIM-Drive

Not only does the SIM-WIL provide a working test bed for the future production car, but it also showcases SIM-Drive’s technology — their own design of in-wheel motors, as well as techniques to incorporate as many components as possible into the frame of the car itself. These technologies free up as much of the interior space of the car for the passengers.

With this second generation prototype, the SIM-WIL, undergoing testing, SIM-Drive is now turning its attention to the infrastructure that needs to accompany the uptake of the vehicles themselves in order to make electric cars a viable option. In this regard it is joining with companies not traditionally associated with EV development, such as Sekisui House (home construction) and Mitsui Fudosan (real estate) to focus on three key areas of smart homes, smart grids and smart cities. This new phase is scheduled to be complete by the end of March 2013.

Apart from wondering how much the finished car will cost, and whether you will be able to get it outside Japan, the only other question on your mind is probably this: What the heck does “WIL” stand for? Well I will be glad to enlighten you - “With Innovation and Link”.

And with some more “innovation” and “link” “luck”, we will all be driving cars like this a few years from now.

(Here is a video of the launch presentation in Japanese. The presentation includes a brief video of the car in action.)

Sources: MyNavi.jp, Zaikei (both Japanese-language)

Corporate site: SIM-Drive (English)

This blog post called “SIM-WIL: SIM-Drive’s 351KM-range EV with 5.4 Second 0 - 100KM/H Performance” is (c) 2012 Integrity Exports Co. Ltd. - “Taking the stress out of buying from used vehicles from Japan.”


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Posted in Car Technology, Concept Cars, Electric Cars, Japanese Cars, New Cars | 2 Comments »

Japan’s January Car Sales Ranking Driven By Hybrids and Kei Cars

Posted by Stephen On Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Japan’s January car sales rankings have just been announced — and the effect of the December decision by the government to get behind the EcoCar tax incentive scheme (100k Yen for a hybrid, 70k Yen for a kei car) can be clearly seen.

Every model in the top ten has either a hybrid or kei car driving its sales. Take a look …

Rank Model Maker Number of Vehicles YOY Change
1 Prius Toyota 29108 2.1 times more
2 Fit Honda 21449 44.2% more
3 Mira Daihatsu 19795 3.8 times more
4 Freed Honda 14042 2.7 times more
5 Aqua Toyota 13485 (New model)
6 WagonR Suzuki 12442 11.9% more
7 Move Daihatsu 12384 12.8% less
8 Tanto Daihatsu 11603 8.5% more
9 N Box Honda 9934 (New model)
10 Alto Suzuki 8967 24.9% more

And if you look closely, what else do you see?

Well here’s a few things that just jump right out at me…

First of all the amazing start to Toyota Aqua sales. This is a new hybrid model that’s the only compact hatchback on the list. It comes out of nowhere with sales starting at the end of last year, and already it has clawed its way up to 5th position. I think Toyota has a hit on their hands here. Can they make enough to keep up with demand when the rest of the world gets their hands on it later this year as the Prius c?

This is a car that has the amazing ability to get even better mileage than a Prius, at an even lower price. Toyota has discovered that if the price is right and the car is frugal enough, at least in Japan size is not so much of an issue.

Sticking with Toyota for my second realization, take a look at how much of the top 10 territory is occupied either by Toyota or Daihatsu models. That’s right – half of the top ten best sellers are made by one or other of these manufactures. Except they are not really two separate entities are they? Daihatsu is a Toyota group company.

Now that’s what I call market dominance.

Finally there are two manufactures who are very conspicuous by their absence – Mazda and Nissan.

Mazda execs must be kicking themselves for coming up with as elegant a technological solution as the Skyactiv engine, when it is neither a hybrid or a kei car engine  — in other words it doesn’t give consumers the Ecocar incentive that hybrids and kei cars have. This clearly shows how the Japanese government has distorted the market by picking technologies to reward, rather than looking at underlying fuel frugality.

Nissan, on the other hand, must be crossing their fingers and living in hope of a distant future where all cars are electric, and their early transition to EVs has paid off in market dominance.

Let’s tune in again next month to see how they are all faring.

Source: Tokyo Shinbun (Japanese)

This blog post called “Japan’s January Car Sales Ranking Driven By Hybrids and Kei Cars” is (c) 2012 Integrity Exports Co. Ltd. – “Taking the stress out of buying from car auctions in Japan.”


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Posted in Car News, Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars, Japanese Cars, Kei Cars, New Cars | 1 Comment »

Gordon Murray and Toray – Teewave AR1 Was Just The Start

Posted by Stephen On Saturday, January 28th, 2012

We broke the story of Gordon Murray’s involvement in the Toray Teewave AR1 electric sports concept that starred in December’s Tokyo Motor Show.

Now Autocar is reporting that this wasn’t just a one off commission: Toray and Gordon Murray will be joining forces in a technical partnership investigating a whole raft of new materials technology, from lightweight hybrid chassis structures to advanced crash structures and safety.

Toray TeeWave AR1 designed and built by Gordon Murray

The alliance with Murray is a bold move for a company that was formerly known for textile producting, and has crossed over into the automotive materials business via carbon fiber production. With Murray’s credibility and design skills, this partnership is sure to take Toray to the next level.

Source: Autocar

This blog post called “Gordon Murray and Toray – Teewave AR1 Was Just The Start” is (c) 2012 Integrity Exports Co. Ltd. – “Taking the stress out of buying from car auctions in Japan.”


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Subaru 360s Reborn as Electric Vehicles (EV) — The Cutest Retro EVs Ever?

Posted by Stephen On Saturday, January 21st, 2012

The Subaru 360 is a little bundle of automotive cuteness that sold 392,000 units in Japan between 1958 and 1970. Despite sporting a tiny 356CC engine, its featherweight 385KG weight meant that it could achieve a just-about-sensible 80 KM / H top speed.

Not necessarily the perfect car for electrification — but that didn’t stop the Saitama Institute of Automotive Technology * from having a go and displaying the finished item at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2012.

“We decided to modify a Subaru 360 that we had at the driving school to draw students’ attention to electric vehicles — an issue that is currently in the public eye.” reported a school spokesperson. Apparently this is their third year of researching EVs.

Subaru 360 EV electric vehicle front

Subaru 360 EV electric vehicle front 2

Subaru 360 EV electric vehicle rear

It only took a month and a half to complete the car, and the budget for parts was just 600,000 Yen. The relatively low cost is likely due in part to the choice of lead acid batteries which give a maximum range of just 50KM, and a top speed of 60KM / H. Not so fast — but then again, with the original design only rated to an (optimistic) 80 KM/H, I don’t know if it would be a smart idea to make it go much faster anyway. Although it is not registered for the road, the school has been able to test it on their own facility.

The school aims to build on the Subaru 360 EV’s success with its next project — modifying a Daihatsu Mira to be a plug-in hybrid.

In other Subaru 360 EV news, it seems that the Saitama Institute of Automotive Technology is not the only group modifying the Subaru 360 these days. In a bizarre coincidence, the Sano Technology High School in Osaka has chosen the same base vehicle for its own electric car project, and has the car on display right now at the Osaka Motor Show (January 20th to 23rd).

I couldn’t find any photos of the completed vehicle (it was only just ready in time — the first test drive being on January 19th), so here are two “making of” shots of the Sano Technology High School team’s electric vehicle.

Subaru 360 EV electric vehicle work in progress

Subaru 360 EV electric vehicle work in progress 2

This high school effort involved 2 donor vehicles and one car for conversion. At 4 months, the time spend was considerably longer than the Saitama Institute’s project, and the Osaka team also used 24 lithium ion batteries instead of those heavier lead acid ones. Power is provided by an electric motor from a forklift, and the end result is a machine that can equal the original’s 80 KM / H top speeｄ.

Are these practical cars? No way

But surely they must be the cutest retro EVs ever? Tell me what you think is the cutest EV in the comments below.

(*Note that some English-language reports incorrectly state that the Saitama Driving School produced the EV on display at the Tokyo Auto Salon. This is not correct and this error can be verified by checking the Japanese-language Saitama Institute of Automotive Technology website. The Saitama Driving School is, as its name suggests, simply a place where you can learn to drive.)

Additional sources: Mainichi Shinbun, MSN Japan (both Japanese-language)

This blog post called “Subaru 360s Reborn as Electric Vehicles (EV) — The Cutest Retro EVs Ever?” is (c) 2012 Integrity Exports Co. Ltd. – “Taking the stress out of buying from car auctions in Japan.”


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2000GT SEV Solar EV Crazy Car Project at Tokyo Auto Salon 2012

Posted by Stephen On Saturday, January 14th, 2012

The original Toyota 2000GT is a sleek throw-back from the late 60s. Just 337 of these were built between 1967 and 1970 as part of the first real challenge to European supercar dominance from the East. A real Japanese classic.

And someone let a group of guys calling themselves “Crazy Car Project” get their hands on one. What were they thinking?

Fortunately, it seems that the “craziness” relates to the car, rather than the people making it. You see, these guys are all Toyota techs. When it comes to cars, they know what they’re doing.

So what happens when you take a classic 2000GT and turn it into a Crazy Car?

Well, more in tune with the 21st Century than its 1960s petrolhead roots, this is an EV. Not just an EV, but as the name implies it draws at least some of its power from the sun. Surely not much, as the solar panels on the bonnet and rear window are not that big, nor is the technology efficient enough yet to generate enough power anyway. But it’s the thought that counts — and there is at least some contribution to the overall efficiency as a result.

The car itself can achieve 200 KM / H. The powertrain is comprised of Lithium Ion batteries coupled to an LSHV motor and inverter. As you would expect from an EV, the car will pull away in virtual silence, but then as it picks up speed, there is a system to add a more “sporty” soundtrack.

Personally, I can’t see the point of making electric cars sound more like their gasoline-powered forebears. After all, I don’t recall anyone feeling the need to add a steam locomotive soundtrack to early cars — or a horse soundtrack for that matter. But anyway, this is all part of the project, apparently: Making an EV that will stir the emotions.

What I would like to see is still a step beyond this: What’s the magic “spark” (pun definitely intended) that the modern day EV needs to give it that same soulful appeal as a great ICE car? Let’s stop dressing these electric cars up in old, classic clothes and start to address that problem head on.

And while you’re thinking about that, why not take a moment to watch this video of the 2000GT SEV in action?

The 2000GT SEV can be seen at the Tokyo Auto Salon in Chiba, Japan right now.

Sources: Yomiuri Shinbun, Gigazine, Crazy Car Project (all Japanese-language)

This blog post called “2000GT SEV Solar EV Crazy Car Project at Tokyo Auto Salon 2012″ is (c) 2012 Integrity Exports Co. Ltd. - “Taking the stress out of buying from Japan’s used car auctions.”


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Honda Fit EV To Use Toshiba SCiB Batteries

Posted by Stephen On Friday, November 18th, 2011

Honda will become the second company after Mitsubishi to use Toshiba’s Lithium Ion SCiB batteries when it launches its electric vehicle (EV) Fit in the US and Japanese markets in 2012.

The SCiB battery pack can charge to 80% capacity in 15 minutes and can be recharged up to 4,000 times. It is also able to withstand temperatures of up to minus 30 degrees Celcius.

Honda is planning to offer the Fit EV under a lease program in the US from summer 2012 with a target of 1,100 vehicles sold over a three-year period. It will also start sales of the same vehicle in Japan during 2012, although it has not yet been decided whether these will be direct to consumer or lease sales.

Honda Fit EV using Toshiba SCiB batteries

The same SCiB batteries are used in the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, whereas the Fit EV’s main rival – the Nissan Leaf – uses NEC battery technology.

As Tog Gear demonstrated in such an exaggerated manner in its latest season of shows, one of the main disadvantages of the current crop of EVs is that the recharging time is relatively long. The more widespread uptake of quicker-charging battery packs like Toshiba’s SCiB undoubtedly goes some way towards answering those criticisms.

Source: Nikkei (Japanese)

This blog post called “Honda Fit EV To Use Toshiba SCiB Batteries” is (c) 2011 Integrity Exports Co. Ltd. – “Taking the stress out of buying from car auctions in Japan.”


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Leaf Lights Up Yokohama’s Marine Tower

Posted by Stephen On Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

You have probably heard about the ideas to integrate EV battery power into some kind of smart grid arrangement, where the EV power pack will provide power back to the house it is plugged into.

Well, the Marine Tower in Yokohama (Nissan’s home turf) decided to do this on a larger scale. To wit, run their illumination display off a Leaf.

The event is commemorating 50 years since the Marine Tower was built and 100 years since the opening up of the port of Yokohama and is running from November 1st to 6th.

The thing is, I am not entirely convinced of the efficiency of powering the lights off Leaf batteries. Surely it would have been more environmentally sound to run the lights right off the grid….

PR value 9 /10

Environmental benefit 0 / 10

Sources: theTV.jp, Sankei (both Japanese)

This blog post called “Leaf Lights Up Yokohama’s Marine Tower” is (c) 2011 Integrity Exports Co. Ltd. - “Taking the stress out of buying from car auctions in Japan.”


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Honda EV-neo Electric Bike for Newspaper Delivery in Japan

Posted by Stephen On Friday, October 21st, 2011

Leasing company Sumitomo Autoservice is going to be offering Honda EV-neo electric scooters to newspaper delivery personnel starting in Togodo, Nagano Prefecture.

Anyone who has spent time in Japan will be familiar with the early-morning wake-up call of the ancient, rattling Honda Cub engine as the newspaper deliver guy makes his rounds at 5 am or earlier.

Although it is one of those distinctive Japan experiences that one might look back on with nostalgia at a later date, it is something you definitely do not appreciate at the time. As someone who has had their day start much earlier than expected thanks to the buzz of the engine and clatter of the stand of one of these old clunkers, I am all for the introduction of these EV-neos throughout Japan.

Japan newspaper delivery bike Honda EV-neo

So, not only is the Honda EV-neo going to be kinder on the environment by replacing an old, oil-burning ICE-powered scooter, but it is also going to create considerably less noise pollution – at a time of day when even moderate noise can be quite disruptive.

For all the hand-wringing about electric vehicles being dangerously quiet for blind people, at the same time it seems that the social benefits of reduced noise pollution are being overlooked.

Imagine how much easier it would be for kids in city schools to focus on their studies without a background of roaring traffic engines, or how much background stress levels could be reduced in the population simply due to a quieter environment?

Source: Response (Japanese)

This blog post called “Honda EV-neo Electric Bike for Newspaper Delivery in Japan” is (c) 2011 Integrity Exports Co. Ltd. – “Taking the stress out of buying from car auctions in Japan.”


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Honda to Launch 3 New Hybrid Models & 1 EV in China in 2012

Posted by Stephen On Thursday, October 13th, 2011

Toshihiro Mibe of Honda announced on October 12th that it would be introducing 3 new hybrid models into the Chinese market in 2012. At first, these hybrid cars will be manufactured and imported from Honda Japan, but Honda is indicating that in the future, it would like to produce these models locally in China itself. Local production of hybrid Honda models could happen as early as 2012. Honda is increasingly focusing on the Chinese market, as it is also planning on introducing a locally-produced EV there at the end of 2012.

The three hybrid models destined for China will be based on the Insight, the Fit Hybrid and the sporty CR-Z. Reports indicate that the EV model will be based on the Honda Fit EV. This model will be produced and marketed by a joint venture company in Guangzhou, Canton province in Southern China and will be tested in local conditions starting at the end of this year. A Beijing-based Honda PR source indicated that this EV model will be eligible for grants from the Chinese government.

Honda also says that by producing the EV model in China may well lead to the rare earth metals used in the magnets in the electric motors also being sourced locally in China. Not really surprising as China is a major supplier of these materials on the world market.

Sources: Bloomberg, Nikkei, Reuters (all Japanese language)

This blog post called “Honda to Launch 3 New Hybrid Models & 1 EV in China in 2012” is (c) 2011 Integrity Exports Co. Ltd. – “Taking the stress out of buying from car auctions in Japan.”


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Nissan New Mobility Concept 2-Seater EV On Yokohama Streets from October

Posted by Stephen On Friday, September 30th, 2011

Nissan is looking to aggressively expand its EV (electric vehicle) line-up beyond the eponymous Leaf. Having received permission from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Nissan announced on September 29th that it would be starting trials of its New Mobility Concept EV on public roads starting in the area around Nissan’s HQ in Yokohama. The trial will also be extended to Aomori Prefecture (in the North) and Fukuoka Prefecture (in the South).

The Yokohama trial will be divided into two phases. The first will be from October 15th to 28th and be centered around people connected with Yokohama’s Motomachi shopping district. The second phase will be open to local residents and tourists and will be run from November 17th to 30th. Participants must be 21 and above and have had a regular passenger car license for 3 years or more. Details of the Yokohama program will be posted on the city website here from October.

Nissan’s 2-seater is ostensibly based on it’s sister company Renault’s Twizy. It is 2.34 meters in length and 1.19 meters wide. With a height of 1.45 meters, it will be big enough to carry two adults. It will have a top speed of 80 km/h and be able to travel 100 km between recharges.

Nissan New Mobility Concept electric car

The original concept showed a two-seater (but surely one of the passengers would have to be very flexible, very short or both to fit in) with no doors, so it will be interesting to see how this design has evolved when it actually hits the streets. I’m not sure I would be too happy driving this in Aomori’s snow in its original door-less form.

Nissan will be providing 7 vehicles at no cost to the city of Yokohama and is hoping to get usage data from a range of drivers, including older people and tourists, as well as researching the social needs for very small vehicles like these.

Sources: Nikkei, Car Watch, Nissan (all Japanese)

This blog post called “Nissan New Mobility 2-Seater EV On Yokohama Streets from October” is (c) 2011 Integrity Exports Co. Ltd. – “Taking the stress out of buying from Japanese car auctions.”


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