Dai Nippon Printing, Sojitz, and Daihen Obtain Japan's First Registration Approval for Commercial EV with Wireless Charging Capability, Begin Public Road Demonstrations
March 14, 2023
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
Sojitz Corporation
Daihen Corporation
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP), Sojitz Corporation (Sojitz), and Daihen Corporation (Daihen) have reached a basic agreement to form a business alliance and work together to commercialize commercial electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with wireless charging functionality. The three companies have now obtained registration approval from the Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Association, the first such commercial EV in Japan to be equipped with wireless charging functionality, and have begun demonstration tests on public roads.
[Background and key points of the business alliance between the three companies]
In recent years, as the global movement towards zero greenhouse gas emissions to prevent global warming has gained momentum, wireless charging technology, which charges EVs contactlessly, has been attracting attention as a technology that can accelerate the shift from existing gasoline-powered vehicles to EVs.
Sojitz, which is engaged in the "Green EV Infrastructure Business" (EV infrastructure development project premised on charging using electricity derived from renewable energy), which includes EV-related businesses and peripheral facilities, has worked with Daihen, which has been promoting the development of "wireless charging systems," and DNP, which has developed a thin, lightweight *2 "sheet-type coil for wireless charging" that reduces leakage magnetic fields *1 during charging, to develop vehicle-side power receiving coils and ground-side power transmitting coil equipment using the coils, and has successfully created a system. In order to conduct a demonstration experiment of wireless charging using this system, the three companies jointly developed a prototype vehicle *3 using a commercial EV provided by Sojitz, and completed a commercial EV for demonstration experiments equipped with wireless charging functionality in November last year.
After the three companies confirmed the safety of the completed commercial EV *4, in February of this year they obtained approval from the Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Association for modified vehicle registration, the first in Japan for a commercial EV equipped with wireless charging functionality, and began driving it on public roads.
Image of wireless charging for EV (left) System overview diagram*5 (right)
(Reference video)
[Value brought by the partnership between the three companies and future developments]
Wireless charging eliminates the need to connect the charger and the vehicle with a cable, thus reducing the burden of charging and improving convenience. As the use of EVs increases among companies working towards decarbonized society, the realization of wireless charging is expected to reduce problems and maintenance costs caused by charging cables, as well as the need for charging spaces. Furthermore, it has high compatibility with automatic parking technology, enabling fully automated charging that frees drivers from the task of charging,*6 and therefore its early adoption is desired.
Through this partnership, DNP, Sojitz, and Daihen will promote the expansion and practical application of EV models equipped with wireless charging capabilities, contributing to the realization of decarbonized society.
- Leakage magnetic field: A magnetic space occurs outside the coil.
- A thin and lightweight sheet-type coil that is approximately one-quarter the weight and thickness of conventional technology
- Sojitz subsidiary Sojitz Planet Corporation also participated in the development of the prototype vehicle.
- Safety check: Charging test for one month on private property, weather resistance test, basic charging performance test, etc.
- Green indicates existing vehicle equipment, while light blue and orange indicate newly installed equipment (orange indicates DNP coil, blue indicates Daihen wireless charging equipment).
- Commercial EV drivers may spend approximately 20 to 120 hours or more per year charging their vehicles, and wireless charging is expected to be a new technology that will also help reduce working hours.
- Company name
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
- Representative
Yoshinari Kitajima, President
- Head office
1-1-1 Ichigaya-Kagacho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
- Business
Printing business consisting of information and communications, lifestyle and industrial supplies and electronics.
- Date of establishment
January 19, 1894
- Company name
Sojitz Corporation
- Representative
Masayoshi Fujimoto, President Director
- Head office
2-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Business
Manufacturing, sales, import and export of various products both domestically and internationally; provision of services; various business investments
- Date of establishment
April 1, 2003
- Company name
Daihen Corporation
- Representative
Representative Director President Shoichiro Minomo
- Head office
2-1-11 Tagawa, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
- Business
Manufacture, sale and repair of various power equipment, various welding machines, industrial robots, high frequency power supplies for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, EV charging systems, etc.
- Date of establishment
December 1, 1919
- Company and product names mentioned in this release are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
- Information contained in this release is current as of the date of announcement. It may be changed without notice.