In order to provide all its customers with driving pleasure as well as superb environmental and safety performance, Mazda has adopted a policy to comprehensively improve its internal combustion engines and then progressively combine them with electric devices.
This process includes the i-stop idling stop system, regenerative braking and hybrid systems. Through its participation in the Tsukuba Environmental Style Test Project, Mazda aims to further strengthen the base of its future R&D activities. Mazda’s collaboration with various corporations and organizations will enable a broader knowledge base, including expertise related to EV infrastructure and the reuse of EV batteries. This will also benefit Mazda as it advances development of its electric drive technologies.
Going forward, Mazda will proactively work toward the establishment of a sustainable society and the evolution of environmental and safety technology based on its long-term vision for technology development, Sustainable Zoom-Zoom, which was announced in 2007.
About the Tsukuba Environmental Style Project
1. Main initiatives of the Tsukuba Environmental Style Test Project (each initiative will be the first case in Japan)
(1) Test the viability of reusing EV batteries in fixed battery stations
– Develop a system to reuse EV batteries in fixed battery stations, including remote battery monitoring technology.
(2)Test a model to optimally use renewable energy in EVs and in participating stores
– Using information and communications technologies (ICT) in conjunction with control and electricity storage technology, develop an effective system to optimally use electricity that is generated through solar panels, stored in fixed battery stations and supplied to EVs and participating stores.
(3) Test the viability of a new service to accelerate the establishment of a low-carbon transport society
– Introduce an EV car sharing system based at convenience stores.
– Test an integrated contactless smart card payment system for the rapid chargers and the car sharing service.
2. Participating organizations
Project leader
– Itochu Corporation
List of collaborating companies and roles & responsibilities
– Family Mart – Provide sites for the project at convenience stores
– Itochu Enex – Provide sites for the project at service stations
– Tokyo R&D – Electric vehicle-related
– Th!nk (Norway) – Electric vehicle-related
– Kyuki – Supply rapid chargers
– EnerDel Inc. (US) – Supply vehicle batteries and fixed batteries
– Seiko Electric – Fixed battery system integration
– Itochu Techno-Solutions – Supply ICT technology, data center
– Windcar – Car sharing service operation
– Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation – Car sharing-related
– Nippon Car Solutions Co. – Car sharing-related
– Ecosystem Japan – Supply solar panel systems
– Mazda Motor Corporation – Electric vehicle-related (provide Mazda Demio vehicles)
Advisory Committee
-Tsukuba City
– National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
– Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI)
– The Japan Research Institute, Limited
Mazda Motor Corporation (TSE: 7261) started manufacturing tools in 1929 and soon branched out into production of trucks for commercial use. In the early 1960s, Mazda launched its first passenger car models and began developing rotary engines. Still headquartered in Hiroshima in western Japan, Mazda today ranks as one of Japan’s leading automakers, and exports cars to the United States and Europe for over 30 years. For more information, please visit www.mazda.com.
