Japan progresses plans to upgrade electric vehicle charging infrastructure

Japan’s e-Mobility Power Company (eMP) has selected ABB to help support the upgrading of the country’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

To modernise the EV charging infrastructure, eMP will replace obsolete chargers with more than ABB 250 Terra 184 units. Deliveries are scheduled to begin this autumn.

Sustainable mobility

The contract is part of a broader push to accelerate the nation’s shift towards sustainable mobility with a target of increasing the share of EVs and plug-in hybrids to between 20-30 per cent by 2030. In 2018, it was just one per cent.

eMP is a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (Tepco) and Chubu Electric Power, two of Japan’s largest utility companies.

To encourage the adoption of EVs, eMP said it is working to reduce charging congestion and increase accessibility to charging stations, allowing users to charge their vehicles, anytime and anywhere

The chargers will be installed at stores located on the roadside, along highways and other public places, offering users quick and easy access and have the ability to charge up to two electric vehicles simultaneously.

To encourage the adoption of EVs, eMP said it is working to reduce charging congestion and increase accessibility to charging stations, allowing users to charge their vehicles, anytime and anywhere.

“We are very pleased to be working in partnership with ABB to introduce high power fast chargers that allow simultaneous charging of two vehicles and are controlled and maintained remotely through OCPP, an international standard protocol,” said Shoko Yotsuyanagi, president of eMP. “It is a major step forward in achieving eMP’s mission.”

Terra 184 is the latest addition to ABB’sTerra family of chargers and supports all charging standards on the market, including CCS, CHAdeMO and AC.

“Tepco, eMP’s main shareholder led the development of the CHAdeMO charging standard which started the e-mobility revolution,” added Frank Muehlon, head of ABB’s global business for e-mobility infrastructure solutions.

“[We are] honoured to have been selected by e-Mobility Power Co as Japan works to transition to a new and sustainable mobility future.”

To date, more than 250,000 fully electric or plug-in hybrid cars have reportedly been sold in Japan with 7,000 high power chargers and 18,000 chargers in operation.

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