Struggling, Japan is trying to electrify its fleet of vehicles. To encourage consumers to switch to electric, a company offers an unlimited charging offer for less than 20 euros per month. The idea is good, but the service is only valid on 6 kW chargers.
Japan is behind in electrification
With only 4% of electrified vehicles (including 100% electric and plug-in hybrids), Japan is lagging behind in the electrification of its fleet. While the government seems determined to transition to a 100% electric era by 2035, local manufacturers are not fully on board. In Japan, Toyota leads the way and continues to sell mostly simple hybrid cars or traditional gasoline vehicles.
Another factor hindering the mass adoption of electric cars is the residential situation in Japan. Many people live in large buildings with no charging options. To try to overcome this obstacle, ENECHANGE has decided to offer an unlimited charging offer for less than 18 euros per month. This Japanese provider has just unveiled its new subscription called “ENECHANGE Passport”.
In the short term, the company aims to have 100,000 subscribers in Japan. The local firm believes that this unlimited public charging offer can help accelerate the adoption of electric cars in the country. According to a survey conducted in March 2024, “the difficulty of installing charging ports in collective housing, especially in urban areas, has delayed the popularization of electric vehicles”.
This unlimited charging service costs 2,980 yen (approximately 18 euros per month) and allows electric vehicle drivers to access over 1,800 chargers during specified hours (from 7am to 4pm). If a driver charges their vehicle outside of these hours, the rate increases to 55 yen (around 0.30 euros) for 10 minutes. However, the chargers covered by the offer only have 6 kW of power.