In Japan there are more charging points than petrol stations
Mobility — di Rudi Bressa
The overtaking happened last year. Range anxiety is no longer a concern, electric cars are taking off — and now Japan is setting its sights on hydrogen.
In Japan there are more charging points than petrol stations
The overtaking happened last year. Range anxiety is no longer a concern, electric cars are taking off — and now Japan is setting its sights on hydrogen.
There are approximately 40,000 electric vehicle charging stations already in operation in Japan today, counting both public and private ones, compared to 34,000 petrol stations. The overtaking happened last year, when Nissan took the trouble to run the numbers.
Electric vehicles take off in Japan
This is a true record, given that the introduction of electric models to the market is very recent. But what matters most — and is confirmed by Joseph G. Peter, head of Nissan's financial division — is that: "an important factor in market growth is the development of charging infrastructure". In other words, it is precisely the expansion of the charging network that can drive the uptake of electric cars, reducing the well-known range anxiety associated with limited battery range.
Not just electric cars in Japan
This news pairs with the more recent announcement of a substantial investment by the Japanese government in the development of a refuelling network for fuel cell vehicles: 300 stations by 2030. This network will drive sales of hydrogen-powered cars. Japan therefore has a choice as to which type of mobility to pursue, both in terms of new car models and charging infrastructure.
Incentives for electric mobility from next year
Something is also stirring in Italy. It appears that the government is preparing a document to be presented at the end of May during the Stati Generali dell'auto elettrica in Lainate, dedicated to incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles and to the development of adequate charging infrastructure. Discussions will therefore begin on updating the Highway Code to account for the future presence of electric cars, as well as on guidelines for fast-charging stations within ordinary petrol stations.
As regards the incentives, the plan is expected to include a reduction in VAT to 10 per cent, a system of tax deductions designed in particular for companies and entrepreneurs, and a government incentive of up to 5,000 euros for the purchase of a new car. For certainty, however, one will have to wait until 27 May.