The Quiet Revolution of Japanese Electric car in Japan

Many countries like Japan are considering shifting to electric vehicles due to rising fuel prices. Damage to the environment is increasing as petrol-consuming cars emit pollutants such as carbon dioxide into the air. Global warming, extinction of animals and diseases are a rising concern. People find it advantageous to own Japanese electric cars as they save costs on fuel.

 Electric cars perform better than conventional fuel-consuming cars as they are not only lighter but have faster acceleration. Although they provide high speed, there is no compromise on safety. The latest electric vehicles in Japan are equipped with automatic airbag-releasing systems and automatic braking systems to protect drivers.

Japan made its first electric car, due to a shortage of oil. Since then, Japanese car exporters have been developing electric vehicles with the latest features so drivers can save on fuel costs and enjoy various benefits such as listening to songs using the digital infotainment system of electric vehicles while driving. Below are the three Japanese electric cars which paved the way for modern electric cars in Japan.

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  TAMA Electric Car

‘TAMA’ was the first Japanese electric car made in 1947 when Japan was facing a shortage of oil after World War II. It was made by Nissan and further developed by Tokyo Electric Automobile Co. which is now known as Prince Motors, Ltd. The car had two doors and four seats.

 Amazingly, the car was made of wood and covered in steel skin. The tiny car could travel up to 96km and was capable of providing a high speed of 35km/h.

• Prairie Joy Electric Car

Nobody could imagine a lithium-ion battery-powered car until the Prairie Joy made its way to the Japanese car market in 1996. Nissan made this mini MPV and introduced it into the Japanese market paving the way for future electric cars. The car has four seats and four doors.

 Researchers could use it to travel the Arctic as the vehicle can withstand harsh weather conditions. Since this Japanese EV is a silent and emission-free vehicle it provided wildlife researchers an opportunity to observe wildlife closely.

• Hypermini

Japan made this compact electric car for two passengers and it rolled out at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1997. Hypermini is a Japanese electric car with two seats and a keyless entry system of IC card type. The car was used to gather information from car-sharing experiments in Yokohama and Ebina. 

Hypermini received the New Energy Grand Prize from Japan’s New Energy Foundation and an excellent design award from the Japan Institute for Design Promotion. Stylish and unique, the car made its appearance in Hollywood movies too such as ‘The Princess Diaries’ and ‘Sleepover’. Lastly, the car has two doors to allow passengers to enter.

Recently, the government of Japan has set a target that by 2035 all new cars in the market will be environmentally friendly. To achieve this goal, Japanese electric car companies have started developing more electric cars with new features. Some of these features are:

• Regenerative Braking

The kinetic energy in conventional braking systems dissipates as heat energy due to brake friction. The energy is recovered by using electric motors but is wasted as heat in resistors. A regenerative braking system aims to improve efficiency by storing the excess kinetic energy as chemical energy in batteries. Later, this chemical energy converts to electrical energy used to drive the car. 

• Solid-state Batteries

Solid-state batteries in EV cars in Japan charge faster than lithium-ion batteries as they have higher thermal stabilities, enabling them to handle high charging currents. These solid batteries deliver around 2.5 times more energy density as compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. Moreover, they degrade slower as they do not have flammable liquid electrolytes.

• Electric Motor

The electric motor is the heart of every electric car. Electric motors are more efficient as they dissipate a small amount of energy as heat. Furthermore, electric motors do not release intoxicants into the air and are environmentally friendly.

• Battery Management System

Firstly, a good battery management system ensures that the battery has just the right temperature, voltage, and current.  Secondly, the system detects potential safety hazards such as short circuits or overheating to minimize accidents and protect users. 

• Power Electronics

Power Electronics in electric cars convert and distribute electrical power to other systems in the vehicle such as the ventilation and infotainment systems. In Japanese electric vehicles, components like rectifiers, inverters, and capacitors charge and discharge batteries, control the electric motor and regulate power flow.

• Digital Infotainment Systems

Digital infotainment systems in these electric cars help drivers stay connected to the modern world as they support everyday devices such as smartphones and tablets. In addition, digital infotainment features include a navigation system, Apple Car Play, and Android Autos. 

Moreover, the system has a charging planner that locates compatible electric chargers and identifies electric stations on the route to your destination. It stops at those stations when the battery is running low and recharges the batteries so drivers can travel further.

•  Advanced Driver Assistant System

Modern electric cars have advanced driver assistant systems such as Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Parking Aids, and Collision Avoidance. Sensors and cameras in cars assist drivers in driving safely and effectively.

The first few Japanese cars like the ones listed above have paved the way for many modern electric cars. Below are three modern electric cars popular for their performance and much more.

• Toyota BZ4X

Toyota established itself as an independent and separate company in 1937. It is known for developing advanced and reliable automobiles. The company decided to take a step towards producing electric vehicles. 

Toyota electric cars in Japan such as the Toyota bZ4X have advanced infotainment features and the latest safety systems. The vehicle is available in dual-motor all-wheel-drive models and single-motor front-wheel-drive models. The infotainment system is equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen display, navigation, and Bluetooth Connectivity.

 Surprisingly, the Toyota BZ4X does not have a glove box instead, drivers can put important documents such as the car’s manual or owner’s driving license in a much safer secret compartment in the center console box. 

Furthermore, the car has a cargo compartment so passengers can store their belongings such as luggage bags, and enjoy the ride as the car has a spacious interior with five comfortable seats and ample leg space.

• Mitsubishi EK-X EV

The Mitsubishi Japanese car exporters have made many reliable Japanese cars with the latest features so the company decided to take a step towards producing electric cars. Finally, the company made its battery-electric Mitsubishi EK-X EV car in 2022. The car has a 20kWh battery pack which is sufficient enough to provide a maximum driving range of 180km. 

It has two charging ports fitted on the exterior of the Japanese EV. The car features a regenerative braking system which allows you to slow down and stop the car by pressing the accelerator pedal. 

A 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system equipped with modern features lets passengers stay connected to the world while traveling. Passengers can connect their devices using the USB-A and USB-C ports. 

In addition, a spacious cargo compartment lets passengers put their belongings in the car and take them from one place to another.

• Honda E

Honda, a Japanese car exporter company is known for producing durable and practical vehicles. It made its Honda e electric car in 2020. The Honda E is a battery-electric supermini with a 12.3-inch LCD touchscreen. Side rearview cameras on the dashboard provide a realistic view.

What’s more, the Honda E has pop-out door handles, round-eye-like headlights, and round tail lights. It is a spacious Japanese electric car with four seats, ample legroom, and a cargo compartment.

Conclusion

 No matter how much humans damage nature, the fact that they need it to survive is undeniable. Conventional cars are a major cause of damage to the environment as they release intoxicants into the air which harm animals, plants, and eventually humans themselves. 

Moreover, with rising fuel prices Japan has started considering switching to electric cars. Japanese electric car companies are further developing electric cars so they can protect the environment, provide transport, and help humans stay connected to the modern world. 

Besides, Japanese electric car companies like Lamborghini aim to launch their first electric vehicle by 2028. Hopefully, most of the cars on the roads will be electric by 2050.