ITOCHU Corporation ("ITOCHU") and participating companies^* will launch the Joint Demonstration Project on Low Carbon Transportation System Using Clean Energy with Tsukuba City ("Project") from March, 2010. This smart grid initiative is the first of its kind in Japan, involving Japan’s unique infrastructure such as convenience store and gas station. This Project takes a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach, demonstrating low carbon transportation system combining the use of electric vehicle, quick electric charger, battery energy storage system for stationary applications, photovoltaic power generator and car sharing model with a leading convenience store, FamilyMart Co., Ltd. ("FamilyMart"), and gas station, ITOCHU ENEX Co., Ltd. ("ENEX"). The Project’s Advisory Committee will consist of members from i) Tsukuba City, ii) National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, iii) Japan Automobile Research Institute, iv) The Japan Research Institute, Ltd., v) leading electric power company as well as other leading companies. The Advisory Committee will review the data obtained from the Project and provide timely advice or suggestions in optimizing the low carbon transportation system.

As Japan’s first initiative, the Project consists of three core objectives:
1. Demonstration of the secondary use of electric vehicle battery for battery energy storage system for stationary applications;
2. Demonstration of the most effective use of renewable energies in electric cars and stores; and
3. Demonstration of new services aimed at realizing a low carbon transportation system

Specifically, electric vehicles will be deployed to serve as the official car for Tsukuba City, company car for FamilyMart, and car for car sharing to local residents and people traveling on business. As part of MAZDA’s ongoing activities to develop electric drive systems, MAZDA Motor Corporation will provide MAZDA DEMIOs to the Project, providing extensive support in modifying its MAZDA DEMIO with lithium-ion battery system made by EnerDel Inc. in the United States. FamilyMart "Tsukuba Science City" store and the ENEX "Tsukuba Science City East Avenue CS" gas station will be installed with a quick electric charger, stationary battery for energy storage, and photovoltaic power generator so that electric cars will be able to charge using solar-generated electric power, which will also be used on the premises. The installation of batteries for energy storage will make it possible to provide electric power generated during the day to electric cars at night.

* List of Cooperating Companies

Advisory Committee

Related Information

• Concept (151KB)