Japanese carmakers encouraged to develop electric Kei vehicles http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1081370_japans-tiny-kei-cars-set-for-increasing-electrification [image] Japan's Tiny 'Kei' Cars Set For Increasing Electrification By Antony Ingram Dec 28 2012
[image / Honda Motor Co http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/hondas-n-one-retro-minicar--image-honda-motor-co_100408025_l.jpg Honda's N-One retro minicar ] Kei-jidosha, or 'Kei cars' are one of our favorite "forbidden fruits" here at Green Car Reports. Strict tax, insurance and parking regulations in Japan result in vehicles designed to set dimensions and engine sizes. So specific are they to Japanese roads and market conditions, they're rarely sold outside of Asia. There's one notable exception, however: Mitsubishi's i, or "i-MiEV" electric car. And some anaylsts predict that several other electric Kei cars are set to join it over the next few years. While North America's Mitsubishi i has been expanded to better suit market requirements, other markets get the original, kei-based version. It's no more than 11.2 feet long, 4.9 feet wide or 6.6 feet tall--the maximum limit for Kei minicars and commercial vehicles. Engines are restricted to 660cc and a maximum output of 63 horsepower, though electric motors are now becoming an option, particulary for vehicles which typically spend most of their time in congested cities. Research analysts Frost & Sullivan suggest that the Kei car market is set for continued marginal growth over coming years. Over 50 percent of cars on Japanese roads currently conform to Kei-car regulations. Of those numbers, say researchers, electric vehicles will play an increasing role. Positive reception to the Mitsubishi i--including the part it played in ferrying relief and assisting infrastructure in devastated areas of Japan following 2011's Tsunami--has encouraged other Japanese carmakers, including Daihatsu and Suzuki, to develop their own electric Kei vehicles. The Japanese government is offering financial incentives and tax exemptions to promote the use of electric vehicles, in common with many countries. Japan also wants 2 million regular charging stations and 5,000 rapid-charging stations along major routes by 2020. The ... nation's roads and traffic conditions are more suited than most to electric power. [© Green Car Reports All Rights Reserved] For all EVLN posts use: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=evln&sort=date Here are today's archive-only posts: EVLN: 1st EV in Spain wirelessly charging to 80% in 15 minutes EVLN: E-trikes are a cleaner, greener Philippine transport solution EVLN: Make Way for Kilowatts: A Growing-Up Year for Plug-Ins EVLN: Zenith plugs into electric cars as road trials prove a success + EVLN: Tesla Supercharger Corridor Locations On East Coast {brucedp.150m.com / brucedp.0catch.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Japan-s-Tiny-Kei-Cars-Set-To-Offer-Electric-Versions-tp4660267.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
