Toyota-led venture company to develop detachable EV batteries with Yamato Transport, Auto News, ET Auto

New Delhi: Yamato Transport Co., Ltd. (Yamato Transport) and Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT) have announced today that they will begin studying the standardization and commercialization of replaceable and rechargeable cartridge batteries as part of energy management efforts for achieving a carbon-neutral society.

CJPT intends to advance plans for commercial BEVs that cartridge batteries can power. The company envisions that commonizing cartridge batteries and recharging systems for vehicles ranging from BEV mini-commercial vans to BEV light-duty trucks will reduce the cost of commercial BEVs and encourage their widespread use.

Meanwhile, Yamato Transport aims to build a green delivery eco-system that includes its transport and delivery partners by co-creating with communities a cartridge battery-based electricity utilization scheme. In addition to promoting the use of green power by eliminating the gap between renewable energy generation peaks and the timing of recharging commercial BEVs, the company also intends to study ways to increase the resilience of electric energy supply communities, such as by delivering cartridge batteries in times of disaster to areas where it is difficult to maintain electric power infrastructure.

The two companies are open to considering collaboration with new partners for the standardization and commercialization of cartridge batteries toward popularizing electrified vehicles as a way to contribute to the achievement of a carbon-neutral society, a joint statement said.

The introduction of commercial battery electric vehicles (BEVs) poses several challenges, including recharging times that are longer than refueling times for conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles, as well as increased logistics downtime (when vehicles and cargo are at a standstill) due to numerous vehicles recharging at or around the same time.

To solve these issues, Yamato Transport and CJPT will begin studying the practical application of detachable and portable cartridge batteries based on their following merits:

• Able to reduce the cost of BEV introduction: The cost can be reduced by limiting battery capacity―and, thus, the total amount of batteries―to match actual driving-range needs.
• Able to reduce the recharging burden: The burden related to the installation of recharging infrastructure can be reduced.
• Able to reduce logistics downtime: Battery replacement can reduce vehicle recharging time.
• Able to level electricity demand: Replacement batteries can be recharged while vehicles are in operation, reducing peak electricity demand.

Also Read:

The joint initiative of Isuzu, Toyota, Hino and CJPT is expected to contribute to the realization of a hydrogen society, as well as carbon neutrality by expanding the options available for customer use and increasing the demand for hydrogen. The companies will also promote the introduction of FC electric trucks to the market along with their widespread use, a joint statement said.

The four other companies are: DENSO Corporation (DENSO), Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota), Hino Motors, Ltd. (Hino), and Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT). These companies will utilize the technologies and knowhow each of them has accumulated to study the potential of hydrogen engines in heavy-duty commercial vehicles.