Toyota and three other Japanese automakers together with a power utility have set up a group to promote electric vehicles by standardizing recharging machines and marketing the technology abroad.
Representatives of Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Fuji Heavy Industries and Tokyo Electric Power Co. gathered at a Tokyo hotel Monday to announce the association, which includes about 160 businesses, some of them foreign, and government organizations.
The officials said the time may have arrived for electric vehicles to really take off not only in Japan but also around the world as concerns grow about emissions and dependence on oil. But the main hurdles that need to be overcome are better battery technology, costs and having recharging stations in convenient locations.
"Automakers are competing in many aspects, but the entire industry needs to come together and offer convenience for our customers," said Nissan Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga.
Nissan is planning to start selling in limited numbers its electric vehicle called the Leaf later this year, and MMC and Fuji Heavy already have electric vehicles on the market. Toyota has begun offering for rental a plug-in version of its gas-electric hybrid vehicles.
But electric vehicles still remain largely experimental.
