Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is planning to improve the EV charging infrastructure across the country to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). METI intends to set new requirements for fast-charging infrastructure, which will see the power output of chargers at highway service areas more than double from the current average level of 40 kilowatts (kW) to 90 kW by 2030.
This power output of these chargers has left some experts surprised. With an average power output of just 40 kW, it appears that the installation of many 50 kW and some 20-30 kW CHAdeMO chargers has resulted in a lower average power output than expected.
While a large campaign was launched in Japan around a decade ago to install thousands of CHAdeMO chargers in a relatively short period, the low power output of these chargers means that the charging time for EVs is longer than some drivers may have hoped. This has raised concerns over whether the current number of chargers is truly sufficient to support the growing number of EVs in Japan.
Even the proposed 90 kW power output for EV chargers may not be high enough to meet the needs of drivers who are used to quick refueling times for traditional gasoline vehicles. Experts say that increases in power output will be necessary to ensure that EV charging is convenient and practical for drivers. In Europe and in the United States, the main effort is to install 250-350 kW fast chargers, especially on highways.
The Japanese government has announced a new proposal to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers along highways every 44 miles (70 km) and to provide subsidies for operators to support this initiative.
The proposal also calls for changing charging methods from pricing based on charging time to pricing based on the exact energy amount. Besides, pay-as-you-go will be required as a necessary function in the next few years (potentially by fiscal 2025).
This move is expected to make charging times faster and more convenient, thereby encouraging more drivers to switch to EVs. The charging infrastructure improvements are also expected to address EV battery range anxiety concerns, help leading to an increase in the adoption of EVs across Japan.
-- Marcus Groll，A Charging Station Owner in UKRAINE
Start your EV charging station businesses with Grasen. For a no-obligation quote, hit the button below, fill in your details, and we’ll get back to you.
