#Japan #Tokyo #Mitsubishi Motors #Tokyo Gas #Nature Inc.

Introduction

Tokyo Gas, Mitsubishi Motors, and Nature Inc. have come together to kickstart an innovative project aimed at enhancing the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) in Tokyo. This collaborative initiative is set to begin in the second half of 2025 and has received recognition from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s "Household Environmental Action Promotion Project."

Project Overview

The project aims to test a remote charging control system that optimizes the timing and efficiency of EV charging at home. This initiative is crucial considering that Tokyo's government has targeted a 100% share of non-gasoline vehicles in new car sales by 2030 as part of its "Zero Emission Tokyo Strategy Beyond Carbon Half."

Addressing Electric Vehicle Adoption

To further encourage EV adoption, it is essential to alleviate the concentrated demand for charging during peak evening hours when many EV owners return home. In collaboration, Tokyo Gas will leverage its energy management capabilities, Mitsubishi Motors will contribute its connected vehicle technology, and Nature will utilize its charging control expertise to develop a system that combines vehicle data, electricity market prices, and home energy consumption. This integration is aimed at stabilizing electric power supply while reducing CO₂ emissions and lowering costs for electricity consumers.

Key Features

1. Vehicle Data Integration: The remote charging system will utilize vehicle data collected through connected technology to optimize charging schedules and reduce electricity costs.
2. Market Price Adjustments: Use of real-time electricity market data will aid in creating efficient charging plans, ensuring users are always charged at the best rates available.
3. Home Consumption Monitoring: By connecting home energy usage data, the charging planner will make automatic adjustments to avoid exceeding the home’s electricity contract capacity, preventing circuit breakers from tripping.

Additionally, for households with solar power installations, the system will optimize charging schedules based on surplus electricity generated, ultimately maximizing self-consumption.

Participant Recruitment

From September 5, 2025, the project will start recruiting participants who own a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, charging it from an outdoor outlet at a detached house in Tokyo. Homes must also be equipped with Wi-Fi and have the ability to install both the "Nature EV Switch" and "Nature Remo E" devices, essential for monitoring and managing charging activities.

Participants will enjoy incentives including a gift card valued at 20,000 yen and charging points that will accumulate based on the amount of electricity consumed and the timings of charging.

Additional Information

The recruitment period lasts from September 5 to September 23, 2025, and the demonstration phase is expected to run from December 2025 to May 2026. The study will evaluate the feasibility of remote control, its societal benefits, including the reduction of CO₂ emissions and avoiding peaks in electricity demand, while also focusing on its economic aspects.

Conclusion

This demonstration project holds the potential to revolutionize how electric vehicles are charged in residential areas, providing insights into consumer experience and testing the effectiveness of new technologies in real-world applications. As the collaboration progresses, we look forward to witnessing advancements that will significantly impact energy sustainability in urban environments.