No. 100: New charging apparatus for electric vehicles for 500,000 yen (July 13, 2010)

Toyota Industries Corp. will put its newly-developed charging apparatus for electric vehicles on the market coming October. It incorporates the communication function to allow for uniform management of charging stations in remote areas. Using mobile phone circuits, the company can manage data on power consumption and utilization status of each station in an integrated manner. It will dispatch collected data to each charging station on a regular basis besides keeping it informed about the operation of the apparatus. The apparatus has an external I/O terminal so that it can collaborate with existing instruments like collection machine of parking fees. It will be offered for 500,000 yen. Not only gas stations but also convenience stores seem to be the target market because it allows for integrated management of many units installed in many locations. The infrastructure market for electric vehicles grows highly competitive, and the technology to make the unit smaller and incorporate the communication function seems to be crucial.