July
2008
Nisshinbo Creates Platinum-Free Carbon Catalyst For
Fuel Cells
Nisshinbo Industries Inc. has worked with the Tokyo Institute of
Technology to develop the technology to use carbon instead of expensive
platinum as the electrode catalyst for fuel cells. The company hopes to
have a practical version of the new catalyst ready in fiscal 2009, and
will start by commercializing a product for the electrodes of residential
fuel cells. Later, it will develop and commercialize a version for
automotive fuel cells. In a fuel cell, the catalyst promotes the
oxidation-reducing reactions at the electrodes that lead to the generation
of electricity from the hydrogen fuel and oxygen in the air. Platinum is
now used as the catalyst, but high demand and unstable supplies from main
producer South Africa have driven prices sky-high. A 1kw-class residential
fuel cell uses several grams of platinum and a 150kw-class automotive fuel
cell uses around 60 grams, which at current prices adds 400,000 yen to the
cost of a car. The carbon catalyst promises to remove this cost barrier,
which along with the needed infrastructure for hydrogen filling stations
is a major roadblock to the adoption of fuel cells for homes and cars. The
new catalyst is made from nanospheres of carbon. For practical purposes as
a fuel cell catalyst, 10 times more carbon is required than platinum; but
even in this larger volume, the cost is just a 10th that of using
platinum. (The Nikkei; Saturday, July 12, 2008)
Toyota Boshoku To Buy Plant, Begin French Output Of
Auto Seats
Toyota Boshoku Corp. announced Thursday that it will start manufacturing
automotive seats in France, acquiring a factory from local auto seat
supplier Faurecia SA. Toyota Boshoku's seat production at this plant is
slated to begin around 2010. The facility will be the Japanese company's
first seat assembly site in the European Union. A local subsidiary, Toyota
Boshoku Somain SAS, will be formed in August and will purchase Faurecia's
seat factory and take on the 300 or so workers there. About 3.9 billion
yen will be invested, including the acquisition cost. (The Nikkei; Friday,
July 11, 2008)
Renault, Nissan To Launch Electric Car In Portugal In
'11
Renault and Nissan Motor Co. said Wednesday that Portugal will be third
country in which the two auto makers jointly launch electric cars. Under
an agreement reached between the French car maker, its Japanese partner
and the Portuguese government, Nissan and Renault will roll out a
zero-emission vehicle in the country on the Iberian Peninsula in 2011. The
Renault-Nissan alliance hasn't decided on under which brand it will sell
the electric model, a Nissan spokeswoman said. Under the agreement, the
government will study the infrastructure and any organizations needed to
create a nationwide network of charging stations for electric cars.
Portugal is the third country after Israel and Denmark to launch Nissan
and Renault's electric car. The deal is likely to help Nissan get closer
to reaching its ambitious goal of mass-marketing electric cars globally by
the end of March 2013. Demand for electric-gasoline hybrid cars and
electric vehicles is growing as emission regulations are becoming stricter
to deal with global warming. Consumers looking to cut fuel spending due to
high gasoline prices are also on the rise. Major global auto makers like
General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. are racing to develop or
upgrade such vehicles. Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of both Renault and
Nissan, has said there is potential demand for about 10 million of
electric cars worldwide. (Dow Jones; Wednesday, July 9, 2008)
Pedicabs Becoming Popular As Zero-Emissions Transit
Service
Bicycle taxis are gaining in popularly as a environmentally friendly means
of transportation, with regular service being offered in three
municipalities. In addition to Sapporo and Hakodate in Hokkaido and
Okinawa's Kohamajima, two locations could see it introduced before the end
of the year. And bicycle taxis were available on a trial basis the first
six days of July in Iwamiginzan, Shimane Prefecture. Most of these
services use the Velotaxi, a German-made roofed tricycle. According to a
nonprofit organization that supports Velotaxi operators, around 100 of the
bicycle taxis are in operation in 22 locations throughout Japan. Fares
vary by operator, but in the Tokyo area a passenger could be expected to
pay 300 yen for the first 500 meters and 50 yen per 100 meters after that.
Some operators have begun displaying how much carbon dioxide would be
emitted by an automobile traveling the same distance. In Kobe, one bicycle
taxi operator has begun offering rides for free, covering expenses with
revenue from on-vehicle advertising. The service area is limited to
central Kobe, but ridership has tripled. (The Nikkei Business Daily;
Tuesday, July 8, 2008)
Toyota To
Add Solar Panels To Prius; 1st For Major Automaker
Toyota Motor Corp. plans to install a solar power generation system on
its Prius gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle when the model goes through
a complete makeover as early as next spring, The Nikkei learned
Sunday. By doing so, it will become the first major automaker to equip
a popular model with a system that can harness sunlight. The high-end
trim lines of the redesigned Prius are to have solar panels on the
roof, which will supply part of the 2-5kw needed to power the air
conditioners. Toyota is taking design and other matters into account
when placing the panels. Such details as the number of vehicles to be
made and the price will be hammered out later. It is planning to
procure the panels from Kyocera Corp., which has a solid track record
of providing panels for homes and factories. The carmaker intends to
produce about 450,000 Priuses at home in 2009, up about 60% from 2007.
In addition to a new solar power generation system, it aims to boost
sales by offering a redesigned version that improves fuel efficiency
through reduced vehicle weight and other steps. (The Nikkei; Monday,
July 7, 2008)
June
2008
Suzuki, GM Co-Develop 1st Fuel Cell Subcompact
Suzuki Motor Corp. said Tuesday that it has developed a new
fuel-cell-powered car with General Motors Corp., their fourth such vehicle
and first as a subcompact. The Japanese and U.S. automakers started joint
development of fuel cell vehicles in 2001. The three prior models were all
based on mini-vehicles. Their latest model, the SX4-FCV, can run for 250km
without recharging -- 50km longer than its predecessor -- and achieve a
maximum speed of 150kph -- 40kph faster. Certified by the Transport
Ministry, the SX4-FCV is expected to start trial runs on public roads
soon. Suzuki, which aims to commercialize the vehicle at an early date,
plans to showcase it at the Group of Eight summit next month in Hokkaido.
(The Nikkei; Wednesday, June 25, 2008)
Nissan To Focus On Electric Car For Mass Market
Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive and President Carlos Ghosn said Wednesday
the company will focus on electric cars as a core "green car"
product for the mass market, even as major rivals step up offerings of
hybrid cars. Nissan, Japan's third-biggest car maker by sales volume, will
offer new electric cars by 2010 in the U.S. and Japan, and globally in
2012, in an effort to meet demand for such zero-emission cars amid growing
concerns over exhaust emissions and soaring gasoline prices. "We
really want to be the first (to offer electric cars) in the mass
market," Ghosn said at a press conference after the company's annual
general shareholders meeting. Two of its competitors in the domestic
market, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., which
makes Subaru brand cars, also plan on introducing such cars next year.
Meanwhile, bigger Japanese car makers such as Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's
biggest car maker, and Honda Motor Co., Japan's No. 2 car maker, are
pushing ahead with more advanced hybrid cars, rather than electric models.
Even so, Ghosn believes electric cars will win consumers over because they
are "zero-emissions. The others are not," referring to hybrid
and plug-in hybrid cars. "We believe zero-emission is part of what
the global market is looking for and (is) ready to pay for," he said.
But the CEO also emphasized the company will keep working on developing
hybrids, fuel-cell cars and other green technologies to provide a wide
range of environmentally friendly vehicles. In an indication of the auto
maker's commitment, Ghosn said that he hopes to sell 1 million of electric
cars a year globally. This would represent about 10% of the total demand
of 10 million of such cars worldwide, that Ghosn has previously cited. He
didn't say by what date he hoped to sell the 1 million cars. With respect
to pricing, car makers in Japan are probably hoping to raise prices by
2%-3% to help absorb higher raw materials costs, Ghosn said. Japan is the
only major market where Nissan hasn't lifted prices recently to reflect
higher prices for steel and other raw materials. It has already done so in
the U.S. and Europe, he said. Ghosn stopped short of saying whether his
company would raise prices in its home market, saying only that it would
be hard to do so unless the biggest player in the market makes the first
move. As for the outlook for the U.S., auto demand there may drop well
below 15 million vehicles this year from 16.1 million last year, in view
of the steep drops in May and so far in June. But Ghosn did not seem
overly worried about the prospects for the U.S. market, as sales of
relatively fuel-efficient passenger cars are growing while those for
gas-guzzling pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles are tumbling.
Earlier this month, Nissan said it will boost production of its Altima
sedan in the U.S. and cut that of its sport-utility vehicles as consumers
clamor for the fuel-efficient vehicles amid $4-a-gallon gasoline. (Dow
Jones; Wednesday, June 25, 2008)
Mazda Rotary Hydrogen Hybrid Emerges As 'Dark Horse'
Eco Car
The world's first hybrid car powered by gasoline and hydrogen that uses a
rotary engine, which Mazda Motor Corp. will introduce by next spring, has
suddenly emerged as a serious contender in the market for next-generation
eco-friendly vehicles. The hybrid will be the core of the environmental
strategy that the company announced Monday. Improving on previous rotary
engine cars and using an electric motor, Mazda has increased the engine's
power by 40% and doubled the vehicle's range while running on hydrogen
alone to 200km. It will lease the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid minivan
in Japan while working to further double its range to 400km within a few
years. First offered commercially in 1967, cars with rotary engines were
well received in Japan for their powerful performance and novel design,
becoming Mazda's mainstay product. But their low fuel economy led to
criticism of the vehicle as a "gas guzzler," and sales plunged
with the oil crisis in 1973. While many automakers withdrew rotaries from
the market, Mazda alone continued development, fighting the aftermath of
the economic bubble and tighter government controls on exhaust emissions.
In the early 2000s, Mazda's primary shareholder, Ford Motor Co.,
recommended it stop developing and producing the engines. But growing
attention to hydrogen as an alternative fuel is now offering the company a
gleam of hope. With its anti-backfire mechanism, the rotary engine can
handle highly flammable hydrogen safely, allowing Mazda to create the
world's first commercial hydrogen/gasoline hybrids. Fuel cell-powered
vehicles also use hydrogen as fuel, but they have the drawback of having
to use large amounts of costly rare metals as electrodes to produce
hydrogen from water. "Given current cost structures, it will be
difficult to make commercially viable fuel cell cars no matter how one
tries to improve the existing technology," said Mazda Senior Managing
Executive Officer Seita Kanai. While there are currently 80 million cars
worldwide, "resources like platinum are available for only one or two
million vehicles," Kanai added, making him confident that
hydrogen-fueled cars using internal combustion engines will gain
popularity before fuel cell vehicles do. Norway's Choice: Despite
their lower energy efficiency, lower cost is why Norway chose Mazda's
rotary engine hybrids over fuel cell cars for HyNor, a joint project
between the government and business to establish a hydrogen supply
infrastructure, according to Chairman Ulf Hasfeld. Based on an agreement
signed last fall, the Japanese automaker will deliver the Mazda Premacy
for use in the project later this summer. Supplying hydrogen remains a
challenge, but the infrastructure is expected to gradually spread as major
carmakers such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. shift the
domestic marketing of fuel cell cars into high gear. Mazda has not yet set
a leasing fee for its hybrid minivan, but the firm currently leases a
hydrogen-gasoline hybrid based on its RX-8 sports car to corporate and
government users for about 400,000 yen a month. The company aims to reduce
the lease charges by developing economies of scale through mass
production. To do so, it will need to collaborate more closely with Ford
so that the new car can be offered in more markets. Under Ford leadership
since 1996, Mazda has sought to rebuild itself by focusing on compact cars
and other fields of its strength. By March 2006, it eliminated all its
accumulated losses and reported a seventh consecutive increase in sales
and profit for fiscal 2007. This year, it projects 9% growth in global
sales to 1.48 million cars, but operating profit will drop by 29% on the
stronger yen and higher materials procurement costs. Dependence on
exports, the highest among Japanese automakers, is among the challenges
Mazda faces as well as the effects of its delay in exploring new markets
in the developing world. At a time when the struggling U.S. carmaker
increasingly expects Mazda to play an important role in such areas as
environmental technology and vehicle development, hydrogen hybrids are
certain to help Mazda gain importance within the Ford group. (The Nikkei
Business Daily; Tuesday, June 24, 2008)
Mazda Aims For Fuel Use Cuts Of 30% On All Models
Mazda Motor Corp. said Monday that it plans to reduce fuel consumption an
average of 30% on its entire lineup of vehicles by 2015 by building more
efficient engines and lighter cars. Starting in 2011, the Hiroshima-based
automaker will roll out diesel vehicles equipped with new fuel injection
systems that increase fuel efficiency by 20% and emit less nitrogen oxides
and other pollutants. The Japanese affiliate of Ford Motor Co. will also
completely retool its gasoline engines, raising fuel efficiency by 20%.
The automaker begin using lighter platforms in 2011 to lower vehicle
weights by 100kg or more. In addition, Mazda will premiere its first
hybrid offering next decade, possibly one featuring the firm's proprietary
hydrogen rotary engine. Mazda is jointly developing fuel cells with Ford,
but Mazda Director Seita Kanai told reporters Monday that the cost
structure and other factors are limiting the spread of cars using the
zero-emission technology. (The Nikkei; Tuesday, June 24, 2008)
Toyota Eyes Next-Generation Battery Amid Soaring Gas
Prices
Toyota Motor Corp. President Katsuaki Watanabe on Wednesday unveiled a
number of eco-friendly business policies, including developing a
next-generation battery in a bid to further boost the automaker's presence
in the ''green'' car market. Toyota, which plans to launch plug-in hybrid
cars with lithium-ion batteries by 2010, said it will set up a special
research team later this month to develop a next-generation battery that
can ''far outperform'' current lithium-ion batteries. The research team
will initially consist of about 50 engineers and double the number in two
years or so, with an eye to commercializing the next-generation battery
around 2030. ''Batteries will be a very important technology for the
future,'' Watanabe said at the Toyota Environmental Forum held in Tokyo.
''After doing research and development on batteries, I think it will be
necessary to commercialize them.'' The automaker is also planning to start
producing lithium-ion batteries in 2009 and to move into full-scale
production in 2010, under a joint venture with Matsushita Electric
Industrial Co., which makes Panasonic brand products. Watanabe said Toyota
is considering biofuel, electricity such as that generated by sunlight,
and hydrogen as key alternative energy sources amid soaring gasoline
prices and increasing worries over climate change. The plug-in hybrid cars
to be introduced in Japan, the United States and Europe targeting
large-lot corporate users can be recharged from a home electrical outlet,
including household solar panels, Toyota said. Toyota aims to sell one
million units a year of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles in the early
2010s and plans to introduce hybrids to all its model lines in the 2020s,
Watanabe said. The Japanese automaker became the first car manufacturer in
the world to mass-produce gas-electric hybrids commercially with the Prius
in 1997. It later expanded the use of its hybrid system to other models.
So far, Toyota has sold a total of 1.5 million hybrid units worldwide,
contributing to approximately 7 million fewer tons of carbon dioxide
emissions that would have otherwise been generated, and reducing gasoline
consumption by about 2.7 million kiloliters, according to the company's
calculations. The company is due to showcase new hybrid-only models, under
both the Toyota and Lexus luxury brands, at the Detroit auto show next
year. As another way of seeking greater environmental benefits, Toyota
said it upwardly revised its target for CO2 emissions reduction in fiscal
2010 ending in March 2011 in the field of production. Under the new
targets, Toyota aims to cut CO2 emission by 35 percent from the level in
2001 across the globe in terms of volume per sales unit, compared with its
previous target of a 20 percent reduction. Other Japanese carmakers are
also putting more emphasis on eco-friendly cars, with Honda Motor Co.
planning to introduce a hybrid version of its popular Fit compact car in
the early 2010s and sell a total of 500,000 hybrid vehicles a year
sometime in the 2010s. Meanwhile, Nissan Motor Co. plans to introduce
all-electric vehicles in fiscal 2010 in Japan and the United States and to
mass-market the vehicles globally in fiscal 2012. (Kyodo News;
Wednesday, June 11, 2008)
Toyota Eyes Next-Generation Battery Amid Soaring Gas
Prices
Toyota Motor Corp. President Katsuaki Watanabe on Wednesday unveiled a
number of eco-friendly business policies, including developing a
next-generation battery in a bid to further boost the automaker's presence
in the ''green'' car market. Toyota, which plans to launch plug-in hybrid
cars with lithium-ion batteries by 2010, said it will set up a special
research team later this month to develop a next-generation battery that
can ''far outperform'' current lithium-ion batteries. The research team
will initially consist of about 50 engineers and double the number in two
years or so, with an eye to commercializing the next-generation battery
around 2030. ''Batteries will be a very important technology for the
future,'' Watanabe said at the Toyota Environmental Forum held in Tokyo.
''After doing research and development on batteries, I think it will be
necessary to commercialize them.'' The automaker is also planning to start
producing lithium-ion batteries in 2009 and to move into full-scale
production in 2010, under a joint venture with Matsushita Electric
Industrial Co., which makes Panasonic brand products. Watanabe said Toyota
is considering biofuel, electricity such as that generated by sunlight,
and hydrogen as key alternative energy sources amid soaring gasoline
prices and increasing worries over climate change. The plug-in hybrid cars
to be introduced in Japan, the United States and Europe targeting
large-lot corporate users can be recharged from a home electrical outlet,
including household solar panels, Toyota said. Toyota aims to sell one
million units a year of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles in the early
2010s and plans to introduce hybrids to all its model lines in the 2020s,
Watanabe said. The Japanese automaker became the first car manufacturer in
the world to mass-produce gas-electric hybrids commercially with the Prius
in 1997. It later expanded the use of its hybrid system to other models.
So far, Toyota has sold a total of 1.5 million hybrid units worldwide,
contributing to approximately 7 million fewer tons of carbon dioxide
emissions that would have otherwise been generated, and reducing gasoline
consumption by about 2.7 million kiloliters, according to the company's
calculations. The company is due to showcase new hybrid-only models, under
both the Toyota and Lexus luxury brands, at the Detroit auto show next
year. As another way of seeking greater environmental benefits, Toyota
said it upwardly revised its target for CO2 emissions reduction in fiscal
2010 ending in March 2011 in the field of production. Under the new
targets, Toyota aims to cut CO2 emission by 35 percent from the level in
2001 across the globe in terms of volume per sales unit, compared with its
previous target of a 20 percent reduction. Other Japanese carmakers are
also putting more emphasis on eco-friendly cars, with Honda Motor Co.
planning to introduce a hybrid version of its popular Fit compact car in
the early 2010s and sell a total of 500,000 hybrid vehicles a year
sometime in the 2010s. Meanwhile, Nissan Motor Co. plans to introduce
all-electric vehicles in fiscal 2010 in Japan and the United States and to
mass-market the vehicles globally in fiscal 2012. (Kyodo; Wednesday, June
11, 2008)
Nissan To Debut Low-Emission Diesel Version Of
X-Trail SUV
Nissan Motor Co. announced plans Monday to launch a low-polluting diesel
model of its X-Trail sport utility vehicle in September. The SUV will be
the first commercial vehicle to meet both Japanese emissions regulations
to take effect next fiscal year and North American standards, which are
considered the toughest in the world. Diesel vehicles are fuel efficient
and release roughly 20% less carbon dioxide than gasoline-fueled cars. But
the popularity of diesel models has been handicapped by their large
emissions of harmful substances like nitrogen oxides and particulate
matter. In the X-Trail, however, Nissan will employ a filter to capture
99% of particulate matter and has also developed a catalyst to break down
nitrogen oxides into water and nitrogen. Diesel engines will first be
fitted in X-Trails with manual transmissions. According to Nissan,
combining diesel engines with manual transmissions results in smooth
acceleration and an enjoyable driving experience. The diesel X-Trail is
likely to sell for a few hundred thousand yen more than gasoline models.
Next, Nissan intends to sell a diesel-fueled Maxima sedan in the U.S. in
2010. Perceived as being dirty and noisy, diesel vehicles have suffered a
bad wrap in Japan to date. But with the spotlight now on their low
emissions and other redeeming features, automakers are positioning them
alongside hybrids and electric cars. (The Nikkei; Tuesday, June 10, 2008)
Automakers On Forked Road In Tech For Earth-Friendly
Cars
The race to develop and produce environmentally friendly cars is entering
a new phase, with Toyota Motor Corp. zeroing in on hybrids while
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and others set their sights on electric vehicles.
Hybrids are costing less and less to manufacture thanks to volume
production, and improved battery performance has lifted their fuel
efficiency further. The Toyota Prius, for example, now gets 35.5km per
liter. This is more than double the average of 16km per liter for
gasoline-powered cars, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers
Association. And in 2010, Toyota aims to launch a plug-in hybrid, which
can be recharged at home, in the U.S. and elsewhere. Meanwhile, a
prototype electric vehicle based on a Mitsubishi Motors subcompact needs
just 1 yen of power to travel 1km. And a vehicle fitted with a battery
that has been recharged for about 14 hours in a household electrical
outlet can go around 160km. Electric cars' short travel distances have
been highlighted as a drawback, but progress in developing high-capacity
lithium ion batteries means that these vehicles can now be used for trips
around town. Yet Toyota and others are wary about the reliability of the
batteries and are reluctant to commercialize electric vehicles. The lack
of recharging facilities is also an issue. For the time being, hybrids and
electric cars are likely to be increasingly used for different purposes.
Hybrids, which require no special infrastructure, are set to be used to
travel long distances, with electric vehicles the choice for shorter
trips. The differing roles of Earth-friendly cars could lead automakers to
go their separate ways. (The Nikkei; Saturday, June 7, 2008)
World Automakers Uniting To Obey New EU Chemical Rule
Automakers from Japan, the U.S., Europe and South Korea plan to develop as
early as next year a common database on chemicals used in autoparts in
order to efficiently comply with a new European Union regulation, The
Nikkei learned Tuesday. The effort includes the Japan Automobile
Manufacturers Association, the Automotive Industry Action Group of the
U.S., the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, and the Korean
Automobile Manufacturers Association. Under the Regulation on
Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, or
REACH, companies selling products in the EU must assess the safety of
substances used in their products and register this information.
Businesses are to spend an estimated total of more than 1 trillion yen
over the next 10-odd years to comply with this rule, which came into full
effect Sunday. Automakers now need to determine which chemicals are used
in their parts, which typically number around 30,000 for just one car, and
ensure that their suppliers have registered the relevant information with
the EU. Were each automaker to work with its own parts suppliers
individually to set up a database, parts suppliers would likely be
overwhelmed. But if a single common database with unified rules on how to
list information is created for the auto industry as a whole, it would not
only let parts markers enter information just once, but also eliminate the
need for automakers to check chemical content each time they decide to use
new parts. (The Nikkei; Wednesday, June 4, 2008)
Germany's Continental Buys 16% Stake In Lithium Ion
Start-Up
Major German autoparts manufacturer Continental AG has taken a 16% stake
in Enax Inc., a Tokyo-based lithium ion battery developer, to jointly
develop and produce cells for hybrid vehicles. This is apparently the
first time a foreign firm has held an interest in a Japanese lithium ion
battery manufacturer. Continental acquired its stake via a private
placement of shares, spending an estimated few hundred million yen. It has
no plans to turn Enax into a subsidiary. The autoparts maker is slated to
begin mass-producing lithium ion batteries for a Daimler AG hybrid to be
launched in 2009. But Continental lacked technology to make core battery
parts, so it is teaming up with Enax to develop and roll out batteries for
hybrids and electric vehicles. Enax had already formed an alliance with
electronics parts manufacturer Murata Mfg. Co., with which it plans to
begin churning out lithium ion batteries by this fall. The two firms will
continue with this tie-up. (The Nikkei; Tuesday, June 3, 2008)
