GO! explains Japan's problem with electric cars

Japan stands for technology, but it is still lagging behind when it comes to electric cars. GO! finds out why and what alternatives Japan is pursuing in Tokyo.

Why are there almost no electric cars in Japan? GO! has asked.

Tokyo, a megacity with 37 million inhabitants, is considered one of the most progressive cities in the world. But Japan is lagging behind when it comes to electric cars in particular.

While around 20% of all new cars in Switzerland are electric, the figure in Japan is only 2%.

The challenges of electromobility in Japan

Despite its technological advances, the image of Tokyo on the streets is not that of an electric car stronghold.

"After a day of intensive searching, our team could only find a single charging station in the Shibuya district," reports GO!

What's more, the charging stations they do find are not exactly the fastest due to Japan's 100-volt power grid. With a charging capacity of just 6.7 kilowatts, they take considerably longer than their European counterparts.

Role of the Japanese automotive industry

The Japanese car industry, characterized by giants such as Toyota, Nissan and Honda, remains loyal to combustion engines.

Frédéric Bourène, Corporate Planning Director in Japan, comments: "The market in Japan is conservative. The government is waiting to see how willing the domestic vehicle manufacturers are with regard to fully electric vehicles."

This attitude is significantly hampering the development and spread of electric cars. There is not only a lack of infrastructural support, but also a lack of robust supply from manufacturers.

The popularity of kei cars

In stark contrast to the rare electric car are the extremely popular kei cars. These small, efficient vehicles are a special feature of the Japanese market.

"Around 1.5 million kei cars are sold every year. They are only 1 meter 40 wide and have a 660 cm³ turbo engine," explains Bourène.

Their popularity is not only due to their low cost. They also benefit from tax advantages and discounts on tolls and parking fees. "With a fuel consumption of around 3.5 liters per 100 kilometers, they are almost as economical as plug-in hybrids."

Comparison with Switzerland

The contrast with Switzerland could hardly be greater.

Here, the government is actively promoting the electrification of transportation. "In Switzerland, the proportion of electric cars is around ten times higher than in Japan. This is primarily due to financial incentives and better developed infrastructure for charging stations," explains an expert in sustainable mobility.

These differences are leading to significantly divergent developments in the field of electromobility.

Electric cars as the future

Japan has set itself the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. However, the path to achieving this differs greatly from that of other countries such as Switzerland.

Whether Japan will ultimately join the trend towards electric cars remains to be seen. However, the success of kei cars shows that there are alternative ways to reduce the environmental impact of traffic.

The future of mobility in Japan could be a mix of traditional kei cars and modern electric cars.

European cities could learn from Japan's experience and consider similar models to meet their own emissions targets.