Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Converted EV begins 55-day nationwide demo run

Off to the races: Senior Vice Industry Minister Isshu Sugawara (left) and Tadashi Tateuchi, head of the Japan Electric Vehicle Club, ride a British Caterham Super Seven sports car that runs on electricity in Tokyo on Tuesday. | KYODO
A British sports car that has been converted into an electric vehicle set off Tuesday on a 55-day demonstration run around Japan.
The vehicle, converted from the two-seat Caterham Super Seven at a factory of Tohoku Jidosha Co. in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, will visit 46 of the nation’s 47 prefectures, according to the Japan Electric Vehicle Club, a group of EV enthusiasts that organized the event.
The club held a ceremony to mark the start of the tour at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
“I hope this journey will be instrumental in letting people realize that EVs are OK wherever they go,” Senior Vice Minister Isshu Sugawara said.
He said the Caterham Super Seven will rely on a network of more than 1,700 fast-charging stations, which can fully recharge a car in 30 minutes, as it makes its way around the country.
The vehicle can go 100 km to 130 km on a full charge.
“We would like to prove that recharging infrastructure for EVs is being built up,” said the club’s leader, Tadashi Tateuchi.
The vehicle will return to Tokyo on Nov. 17.

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