Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Japan Enters Race for Global Electric Car Charging Standards

Japan Rapid Charger

One of about 150 rapid chargers currently in use in Japan.

After dominating the world market for hybrid gas-electric vehicles, Japan's automakers are now aiming to set the global standards for electric car charging.

A coalition of companies, including Nissan and Toyota, announced yesterday the creation of a organization called CHAdeMO that is working to develop the standards. �SWhat we need to do is make this protocol a standard outside Japan,⬝ said Tsunehisa Katsumata, chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Co., the main utility backing the venture.

The coalition has 158 partner companies. Non-Japanese companies interested in the effort include PG&E, Robert Bosch, Enel SpA, Endesa, PSA Peugeot Citroen, and Korea Electric Power.

US companies have been working to establish standards for the American market. In January, the Society of Automotive Engineers adopted SAE J1772 as the standard plug, which will be used by the Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf and other upcoming plug-in cars. The first adopters of these vehicles will predominantly charge their vehicles at home using 220-volt Level II charging, rather than rapid chargers. Agreement on the J1772 took years of debate and discussion.

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Read More... [Source: HybridCars.com]

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