Better Place extends Tokyo trial

Better Place has announced that it has extended its switchable-battery electric vehicle (EV) taxi pilot in Tokyo to operate through the end of the year. By extending the trial, Better Place will be able to further evaluate and optimise the design and integration of the components of the system, including the battery switch station (BSS), the EV taxis, battery performance and charging as well as driver behaviour and consumer acceptance.

The current trial is part of a program run by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The pilot project began on 26 April, in cooperation with Nihon Kotsu, Tokyo’s largest taxi operator, and focuses on the feasibility of battery switching as a means for taxis to have instant, zero emission, range extension. The extension of the program has received approval from the Ministry’s Agency for Resources and Energy, which will maintain its continued role in the project. Operations are to be temporarily suspended during August so that EV battery and onboard vehicle data can be analysed, and will resume again on 1 September.

“Up to this point, there has been very little information about how an EV battery will perform in heavily used, real-world taxi conditions. This program has provided us with critical insights into the battery performance in a switch model and switch station performance for the toughest customers - taxi drivers,” said Kiyotaka Fujii, President of Better Place Japan. “By extending this program, we hope to gain further insights into the battery performance and durability of the switch station itself, which will be invaluable as we move towards commercial launch later next year in Israel and Denmark.”

While a comprehensive analysis of the data is still being conducted, some initial data points about the taxi project include:

• 40,311 number of kilometres driven
• Taxi drivers went through the switch station 2122 number of times
• Average switch time 59.1 seconds
• 3020 passengers have ridden in the taxis

During the subsequent extension of operations, the following will be tested with each EV taxi and at the battery switch station, with a view towards making actual operations a reality.

Recharging time to be optimised for batteries

Up until now, battery management has been handled under a unified system that integrates factors such as remaining onboard energy, the location of the EV taxi in question, current BSS battery recharging/storage status and more. In addition, new programming at BSS facilities will make it possible to optimise battery-recharging rates based on temperatures and performance.

Rather than having battery-recharging rates managed manually, the facilities will be programmed to speed up or slow down recharging automatically for an optimum charging process to extend battery life span and performance.

Consumers and visitors to Tokyo will continue to be able to ride in the EV taxis during the extended trial by signing up at the Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills.

Details of the extended operation

• Period of extension: 1 September - 9 November 2010
• Number of exchangeable-battery EV taxis: 3
• Taxis may be boarded at the dedicated EV traffic lane at Roppongi Hills (Mori Tower South Elevator 1F Entrance).
• Operation from 8:00 am to 1:30 am
• Note: arrangements for alternative vehicles may be made depending on destination and taxi battery charge status

Battery switch station

• Located at 1-19-4, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
• Battery switch requires approximately 60 seconds from start to finish
• EV taxi position, remaining battery power, temperature and other factors will be monitored in real time to optimise battery management