Japanese car makers call for more power

Four of Japan's biggest car manufacturers are banding together in an effort to force the government to grant licenses for more electric car charging stations across the country.
Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi have said electric vehicles would be adopted at a far greater rate than once estimated if electric and plug-in hybrid cars could top up at service stations.
The car makers are believed to be responding to slow sales of the vehicles, for which there are fewer than 5,000 charging stations throughout the country.
The car companies sold a combined 26,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles last year.
Another 12,000 plug-in centres are soon to be established at shopping centres, restaurants and conventional petrol stations.
Japanese statistics experts say electric cars should make up 15-20 percent of new car sales by 2020.