Japan First to Test Solar-Electric Car

Progression in the electric car industry sure seems to be traveling in the fast lane. Gas-free, or mostly so, vehicles have been around for a while now and car companies are continually making improvements in this budding area of transportation.

However, one of the drawbacks in electric or hybrid cars to date is their need to be recharged quite frequently. This involves plugging in the vehicle and waiting quite a while for it to fill up.

The latest technique will integrate solar-generated power for batteries, which will be rapidly charged at charging stations. The Mazda2 (known as Mazda Demio in Japan) vehicles will be tested in Tsukuba City, Japan in a program called Tsukuba Environmental Style Test Project. Similar to Zip Car, customers will have cards that allow them to pick up a car and drive it around as they like, tracking mileage and usage for payment.

Making this possible is Think Global, the Norwegian electric vehicle company that outfitted the cars with their electric drive-trains, and EnerDel, who provided the solar-charging batteries and charging stations.

According to EnerDel, as reported by CNET, "The unique combination of on-site battery storage with rapid charging allows the use of direct current throughout the system, sharply reducing the amount of time needed to charge a vehicle."

Conquering the slow charging downfall will be a huge stepping stone in making electric cars more consumer friendly, especially with the city-driving crowd.

Think CEO Richard Canny said in a press release: "This is a very exciting initiative, especially with the ancillary tests being conducted into the use of renewable energy sources and secondary applications of EV batteries — watch this space.”

Will solar-powered and quick-charging batteries become standard in all electric vehicles? Will it drive the market toward gas-free, environmentally friendly commutes? Let's see what happens in Tsukuba City.

Photo by takushib via Flickr.